He was educated at Charterhouse School,[2] Heidelberg University and Wadham College in Oxford.

Burnett joined the Reserve of Air Force Officers in 1932 and transferred to the RAF in 1934.

[3] Burnett's name came to prominence in 1938, when he was the navigator and second pilot of a Wellesley bomber that completed a record-breaking non-stop flight of 7,158 miles from Ismailia in Egypt to Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia, for which Burnett was awarded the AFC.

[5] Burnett was a keen sports player and received many accolades including two Blues at Oxford University (tennis & squash).

He married Valerie St. Ludger (d. 2003) and continued to live an active life playing tennis and skiing until he was over 90.