Rescued flyers hugging the wings await the approaching USS TANG.

In mid-April TF58 conducted operations in support of forces under the command of General MacArthur and the assaults in the Humbolt Bay area of the north coast of New Guinea. After four days of direct support, TF58 departed the area due to the lack of suitable targets. With ammunition available, TF58 was then directed to conduct air strikes against Truk in the eastern Caroline Islands. At 0727 on the 29th, carriers launched the first strikes on Truk. At 0811 enemy aircraft out of Truk closed TG58.3 with NORTH CAROLINA reporting one confirmed enemy aircraft shot down.

On 30 April air strikes against Truk continued. It was during the morning of this second day of attacks that a OS2U Kingfisher from the NORTH CAROLINA, piloted by LTJG Burns conducted one of more famous recoveries of downed pilots of the war. Two of the NORTH CAROLINA's Kingfishers had been launched to recover a downed Hellcat pilot who was reported in the water south of the island. The first of the Battleship's aircraft attempted to land but capsized. Successfully landing, Burns picked up the downed pilot and the two crewmen from the Battleship's other Kingfisher. Too heavy to take off, he taxied his aircraft to a nearby area where the U.S. submarine TANG, commanded by future Medal of Honor winner, CDR O'Kane, was located and transferred the crewmen to the submarine. The TANG sank the capsized Kingfisher with gunfire. Burns took off and was directed to the east end of the island to find another downed Hellcat pilot. Picking up this pilot, Burns again found his Kingfisher too heavy and the waters too rough to take off. He contacted TANG who reported that it would take about three hours for the submarine to arrive at Burns' position. While awaiting TANG, two Avenger dive bombers were hit and ditched near Burns. He taxied to each life raft in turn and picked up the pilot and two crewmen from each Avenger. With seven passengers now onboard in addition to Burns and his crewman, all they could do was wait for TANG. TANG's arrival, however, was delayed as the submarine was detoured to pick up another downed aviator. Nearly five hours later the TANG surfaced and took aboard Burns' passengers; and having been in the water so long, Burns' Kingfisher was too water-logged to take off and was forced to be sunk by gunfire from TANG.

Rescued pilots on deck of USS TANG after safe return to Pearl Harbor.

So LTJG Burns got to join those 10 pilots and crewmen he saved onboard the TANG and rode the submarine back to Pearl Harbor. Together, Battleship NORTH CAROLINA Kingfisher and TANG rescued 22 downed aviators that day. LTJG Burns received the Navy Cross for his efforts.