This Military Service Page was created/owned by
SSgt Robert Bruce McClelland, Jr.
to remember
Burroughs, William David, Col USAF(Ret).
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Contact Info
Home Town Indianhead, Maryland
Last Address Arizona
Date of Passing Mar 27, 1999
Location of Interment National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona (VA) - Phoenix, Arizona
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Title 10, Section 8742, United States Code, takes pleasure in presenting the Air Force Cross to Major William David Burroughs (AFSN: FR-27184), United States Air Force, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an opposing armed force while serving with the 15th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, in action in Southeast Asia on 11 July 1966. On that date, Major Burroughs flew his unarmed and unescorted RF-101 Voodoo against a strategic target of vital importance situated along a critical northeast railroad only thirty-five nautical miles northeast of Hanoi. This target was of singular value, and the immediate area defenses were as concentrated, menacing, and vicious as any in the annals of air warfare. Refusing to be deterred by a direct hit from a deadly missile which caused major structural damage to his aircraft, Major Burroughs courageously pursued his mission and obtained important photo intelligence of this strategic target. By his extraordinary heroism, superb airmanship, and aggressiveness in the face of an armed hostile force, Major Burroughs reflected the highest credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.
Aircraft/Missile Information
Specifications StatsCentral Model Northrop F-89D Scorpion Length 53.84 ft | 16.41 m Width 59.65 ft | 18.18 m Height 17.59 ft | 5.36 m Engine(s) 2 x Allison J-35-A-35 turbojet engines with afterburn generating 7,200lbs of thrust. Empty Weight 25,194 lbs | 11,428 kg MTOW 42,241 lbs | 19,160 kg Max Speed 636 mph | 1,024 km/h | 553 kts Max Range 2,600 miles | 4,184 km Ceiling 49,196 ft | 14,995 m | 9.3 miles Climb Rate 5,250 ft/min (1,600 m) Hardpoints 5 (including wing tip mounts) Armament 104 Mighty Mouse 2.75in air-to-surface rockets in wingtip launchers.
Optional:
3 x Falcon air-to-air missiles 27 x Mighty Mouse 70mm unguided rockets Accommodations 2
Major Variants
* F-89 - Base Model Series Designation * F-89D - Definitive Scorpion Model; most produced in the series; fitted with 104 Mighty Mouse 2.75in rockets on wingtip pod mounts; fitted with advanced APG-40 radar system and Hughes E-6 fire-control system. * F-89J - F-89D Converion Models with provision for AIR-2A Genie unguided nuclear air-to-air missile.