Robert Whitney Burns
Military
Image stamped on reverse: 'International News photos.' [stamp], 'Passed for publication 25 Sep 1943.' [stamp] and '285399.' [Censor no.]
Printed caption on reverse: 'DS pictured standing in front of the Flying Fortress "Duchess" after the successful US 8th Air Force (ETO) raid on Nantes (France) the morning of September 23rd are back row, L to R:
Lt James O Bradley, Cincinatti, Ohio,
Captain John Carraway, Raleigh, NC,
Major J R Blaycock, Council Bluff, Iowa,
Captain Clark Gable, Hollywood, Cal,
Lt Col Robert W Burns, Ecru, Miss,
Lt David Palmer, Seattle,
Staff Sergeant Stephen Schmitt, 6617 North Ashen Ave, Chicago, Ill.
Front Row: L to R:
Staff Sergeant William J Mile, 836 East 83rd Street, NYC,
Master Sergeant Fletcher Cupp, Carthage, MO,
Staff Sergeant Frank Dillinbeck, 9502 East Broadway, Spokane,
Technical Sergeant Clyde L Eisenhart, York PA.
Above formed members of the crew of "Duchess" aboard which Gable has just completed his fifth mission and thereby earned the Air Medal DS/CAS.'
Note: photoshopped to remove editor's marks on photograph.
Edited version from the Roger Freeman Collection
Object Number - UPL 54681 - A bomber crew of the 351st Bomb Group, including Hollywood Actor Clark Gable, with their B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed "Duchess". Image stamped...
AM/ LOM
Connections
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Units served with

- Unit Hierarchy: Wing
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Combat organisation
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Born |
Stanley, Wisconsin | 15 September 1908 | |
Died |
5 September 1964 |
Revisions
ContributorAAM
ChangesAAM ingest
Sources
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / Who's Who in the Eighth Air Force and/or Biographical Directory Command & Staff Officers Eighth Air Force 1942-45