From 1914, the family lived in the village of Novye Vyselki (now in the Plavsky District of the Tula Oblast), before returning to Moscow in 1930.

[3] Following the outbreak of Operation Barbarossa in June 1941, Burkin began flying missions while assigned to the Black Sea Fleet.

By December 1941, he had completed 16 combat missions as a flight commander of the 2nd Mine and Torpedo-Aviation Regiment of the Air Force of the Black Sea Fleet.

At the same time, he was appointed inspector for piloting techniques of the 5th Guards Mine-Torpedo Aviation Regiment of the Air Force of the Black Sea Fleet.

During the second Jassy–Kishinev offensive in August 1944, the pilots of the regiment successfully completed the task of blocking the main Romanian naval port of Constanța.

[8] In September 1944, following the end of hostilities in the Black Sea, Burkin was reassigned to the Pacific Fleet in November 1944.

As commander of the 52nd Mine-Torpedo Aviation Regiment, Burkin showed exceptional courage and military skill while flying the Il-4s.

[1] From February 1950 to July 1951, he was assigned as commander of the 2nd Guards Mine-Torpedo Aviation Sevastopol Division named after N. Tokarev of the Air Force of the Black Sea Fleet.

From April 1955 to December 1958, he served as the head of the 12th Naval Aviation School in the city of Kuybyshev (renamed Samara).