Colonel Rayvon Burleson (1920-2003), a resident of Smyrna, did it all. During his 30-year military career, he served as transport, bomber, helicopter and test pilot. He was Delaware's first state aeronautics administrator. And he was an "N92 Airport Bum" (association of pilots at Summit Airport).
He enlisted in the Army in 1941, was commissioned in the Army Air Corps in 1944, won his wings in 1945 and flew coastal bomber patrol in the Pacific Northwest. When the service became the U.S. Air Force in 1947, he joined the Strategic Air Command, flying B-36 intercontinental bombers.
When the B-36 was retired, he transferred to the Military Air Transport Command, flying vanous aircraft including the C-54, C-97, C-124, C-121 and C-123. He played a prominent role in the Air Force's transition to the C-133 Cargomaster. The fifth pilot to be checked out in the ship, he served as test pilot and a squadron commander; and he helped activate two Cargomaster squadrons at Dover AFB.
During two tours in Vietnam, Colonel Burleson was commander of rescue operations for downed airmen. He retired in 1970 at DAFB, with decorations that included the Legion of Merit, Air Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal and other unit and campaign awards.
Following military service, he flew for the Foundation of Airborne Relief in Asia. On return, he served as chief pilot for Diamond Aviation at Cheswold.
He was state aeronautics administrator from 1974 to 1990. In retirement, he spent most of his leisure time at KEVY (FAA designator for Summit) where he kept his plane(s), and engaged in "hangar-flying" with fellow Summit Airport Bums.
Colonel Burleson died in 2003. His wife Sibyl died in 1984. They are survived by daughters Elizabeth B. Morns of Bowers Beach and Lucinda B. Novotny of Smyrna.
