This Military Service Page was created/owned by
SSgt Robert Bruce McClelland, Jr.
to remember
Bourgeois, Robert Clark, MSgt USAF(Ret).
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Contact Info
Home Town Lecompte, Louisiana
Last Address Metairie, Louisiana
Date of Passing Nov 13, 2001
Location of Interment Lake Lawn Park Cemetery - New Orleans, Louisiana
Wall/Plot Coordinates South Unit 3, South Corridor 9, Tier A, Crook 43
Official Badges
Unofficial Badges
Additional Information
Last Known Activity:
He was the bombardier on crew #13 in the Doolittle Raid. He went on to serve in the USAAAF and USAF until he was medically retired Jan 12, 1960.
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 2, 1926, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Sergeant Robert C. Bourgeois (ASN: 7000417), United States Army Air Forces, for extraordinary achievement as Bombardier of a B-25 Bomber of the 1st Special Aviation Project (Doolittle Raider Force), while participating in a highly destructive raid on the Japanese mainland on 18 April 1942. Sergeant Bourgeois with 79 other officers and enlisted men volunteered for this mission knowing full well that the chances of survival were extremely remote, and executed his part in it with great skill and daring. This achievement reflects high credit on himself and the military service.
Division: Doolittle Tokyo Raider Force
Crew #13 (Plane #40-2247, "The Avenger", target Yokosuka): 37th Bomb. Sq. L-R: Lt Clayton J. Campbell, nav., Lt Edgar E. McElroy, pilot; Sgt Adam R. Williams, flt engr/gunner; Lt Richard A. Knobloch, co-pilot; Sgt Robert C. Bourgeois, bombardier. (USAF photo)
Aircraft/Missile Information
Model Boeing B-47E-IV Stratojet Length 108.01 ft | 32.92 m Width 116.14 ft | 35.40 m Height 0.00 ft | 0.00 m Engine(s) 6 x General Electric J47-GE-25 turbojets generating 7,200lbs of thrust each. 1 x 36,000lb rocket system for JATO launch. Empty Weight 79,073 lbs | 35,867 kg MTOW 229,999 lbs | 104,326 kg Max Speed 600 mph | 965 km/h | 521 kts Max Range 3,870 miles | 6,228 km Ceiling 40,499 ft | 12,344 m | 7.7 miles Climb Rate 4,350 ft/min (1,325.88 m/min) Hardpoints 0 Armament 2 x 20mm cannons in rear-facing remote tail turret assembly.
25,000lbs of internal ordnance Accommodations 3 or 4 Operators the United States of America
