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Contact Info
Home Town Painesville, Ohio
Last Address Arizona
Date of Passing Mar 16, 2006
Location of Interment U.S. Military Academy West Point Post Cemetery (VLM) - West Point, New York
Major General Robert W. Strong Jr., USAF (Ret) Robert William Strong Jr. died peacefully at home on March 16, 2006. He was born in Painseville, Ohio on November 23, 1917. His father, a West Point grad (class of '15), was a cavalry officer in the U.S. Army, and young Robert grew up in the nomadic, adventurous world of the old-time Army Brat. An alumnus of Valley Forge Military Academy, he entered West Point with a presidential appointment. He graduated in 1940 and earned his wings in 1941. During World War II, he served in the Pacific Theater with the 21st Bomber Command as a B-29 pilot and squadron leader. After the war, he held a variety of positions, including Tactical Officer at West Point, Asst. Air Attache to Canada, student at the Naval War College, and staff officer at Air Force Headquarters in Washington, D.C. In 1956 he returned to the Strategic Air Command as Field Commander. His commands included the 376 Bomb Wing, the Strategic Wing, the 825th Strategic Aerospace Division. In 1963 he was assigned to a three-year tour as Commandant of Cadets at the USAF Academy. From there he returned to SAC with command of the 817th Air Division at Pease AFB. His last USAF assignment was Chief of Staff of the 8th Air Force and senior staff executive in the Office of the Secretary of Defense. In 1970 he retired from the USAF. General Strong received a number of awards during his USAF career, including the Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit with Oak Leaf Cluster, Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star and two USAF Commendation medals. After retirement from the USAF he became the Superintendent at Valley Forge Military Academy and Junior College, his Alma Mater. General Strong was preceded in death by his parents, Brig. General Robert W. and Mildred M. Strong, and two brothers Walter and 1st Lt. Gordon Strong (West Point graduate). He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Virginia Denit Strong; son David; three grandsons; and two great-grandchildren.
Aircraft/Missile Information
Model Boeing B-29A Superfortress Length 99.02 ft | 30.18 m Width 142.26 ft | 43.36 m Height 29.56 ft | 9.01 m Engine(s) 4 x Wright R-3350-57 radial piston engines generating 2,200hp. Empty Weight 71,361 lbs | 32,369 kg MTOW 141,102 lbs | 64,003 kg Max Speed 358 mph | 576 km/h | 311 kts Max Range 4,100 miles | 6,598 km Ceiling 31,808 ft | 9,695 m | 6.0 miles Climb Rate 526.3 ft/min (160.4 m/min) Hardpoints 0 Armament 4 x 12.7mm machine guns in electrically-operated dorsal turret 2 x 12.7mm machine guns in electrically-operated under-nose turret 2 x 12.7mm machine guns electrically-operated turret over rear fuselage. 2 x 12.7mm machine guns electrically-operated turret under rear fuselage 2 x 12.7mm machine guns in tail gun position 1 x 20mm cannon in tail gun position
6,000lbs or internal ordnance. Accommodations 10 Operators the United States of America