Charles Burlingame

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Charles Frank "Chic" Burlingame III (September 12, 1949 – September 11, 2001) was the pilot of American Airlines Flight 77, the aircraft that was crashed by terrorists into the Pentagon during the September 11, 2001 attacks.

Charles Burlingame graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1971.[1] In the Navy, he flew F-4 Phantom jets, rising to the rank of captain.[2] In 1979, Burlingame left active duty with the Navy and joined American Airlines though, he remained in the Naval Reserves. Burlingame volunteered to be activated during the Gulf War.[2] Burlingame also spent time working in The Pentagon, while in the Naval Reserves.[3]

Burlingame retired as a Navy Reserve Captain in 1996 and worked at American Airlines.[4] Burlingame was married to an American Airlines flight attendant, Sheri Burlingame.[5]

Burlingame was the pilot of American Airlines Flight 77, with First Officer David Charlebois,[6] before it was hijacked and flown into the Pentagon.[7]

Burlingame was born in St. Paul, Minnesota[2] and moved around a lot while growing up as a son of an active duty member of the United States Air Force.[2] He spent parts of his childhood in California and England.[2] Burlingame graduated from Anaheim High School in California.

[edit] September 11, 2001 attacks

Burlingame's burial
Burlingame's burial

Burlingame was buried in the Arlington National Cemetery. He was initially deemed ineligible for burial there due to his status as a reservist deceased at an age younger than 60, but Burlingame was given a waiver and his case triggered reform of Arlington's burial criteria.[8]

[edit] See also

United States Navy Portal

[edit] References

  1. ^ Gottlieb, Sandra. "Local doctor's brother piloted ill-fated flight 77", Lancaster New Era, September 12, 2001. 
  2. ^ a b c d e Nelson, Todd, Phillip Pina. "Twin Citians Mourn, Await News of Victims", Saint Paul Pioneer Press (Minnesota), September 12, 2001. 
  3. ^ King, Larry, Amy S. Rosenberg, Jonathan Gelb. "Pilot whose jet hit Pentagon had worked there", The Philadelphia Inquirer, September 13, 2001. 
  4. ^ washingtonpost.com: America At War - The Human Toll
  5. ^ Levine, Susan. "Flight 77: Hope Replaced by Grief; Among the Dead From Jetliner Are Lawyers and Engineers, Couples and Children", The Washington Post, September 13, 2001. 
  6. ^ National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States (2004). "Chapter 1", 9/11 Commission Report. Government Printing Office. 
  7. ^ Charles Frank Burlingame III, Captain, United States Navy
  8. ^ Chris Smith