Sergeant Robert C. Bourgeois

Sergeant Robert C. Bourgeois was the bombardier in Crew 13 during the Doolittle raid.

He was born on 28 September 1917, in Lecompte, Louisiana. His father was Robert Mitchell Bourgeois Sr. and his mother Elizabeth E. Clark Bourgeois. Robert had 6  brothers: Otis Bourgeois,  James Bourgeois, Clarence Bourgeois, Jerry Bourgeois, Rene Bourgeois and Kenneth Bourgeois. 

"We bombed our target exactly as planned approaching from the east at about 1300 ft. and 200 mph indicated. Bombs were dropped in congested building area at about 1440 o'clock. The large crane was seen to be blown up and a ship in the building slips was seen to burst into flames. It is believed that all bombs fell in congested building and construction area. When some 30 miles to sea, we could see huge billows of black smoke rising from the target."

"We encountered no enemy aircraft but heavy AA fire over target was fairly accurate. We saw no barrage balloons. After bombing we immediately headed out to sea on a course of about 220 degrees. When well out to sea we turned southeast and headed for Yaka Shima islands, passing just to the south of these islands at about 1915."

About halfway between the target and Yakashima Island we sighted a large submarine apparently at rest, and about 15 miles further on we sighted three large cruisers headed toward Japan. We ran in to instrument weather about 1¹/2 hours short of the China coast, although it had been overcast since leaving Yaka Shima. At about 2100 we climbed to about 6,000 ft. We had flown a compass course of 260 degrees since leaving Yaka Shima.

At 2230 we began preparing to bail out. Each man filled his canteen, put on his life vest, and filled a bag with rations, etc. All five men were assembled in the navigator's compartment. The ship was on A.F.C.E. We bailed out as close together as possible at 2245 so as to e together on the ground. I bailed out last, pulling the throttles all the way back before doing so. I did not go to the plane myself but Sgt. Williams went to it and said it was completely burned up. Sgt. Williams received a wrenched knee when he lit in a tree, but it was OK in a few days. Lt. Knobloch cut his hip when he bailed out, but it healed OK in a few days.

The entire trip was made at 166 mph indicated, following the cruise chart accurately. We bailed out about 75 miles north of Poyane. All landed safely except Williams who landed in a tree and injured his knee slightly.

Crew 13 in China. Left to right: Clayton J. Campbell, Adam R. Williams, Edgar E. McElroy, and Robert C. Bourgeois after being found by Chinese soldiers and civilians. Far left you see Richard Knoloch's leg.

Knobloch and McElroy located each other about 0100 the next morning. Early the next morning we walked to the first village and after some difficulty with sing language they began leading us, as we later found out, toward soldiers. About 1000 o'clock as we were making a stop for some reason or another, we were joined by Campbell and Bourgeois, and about 1100 o'clock we were joined by Sgt. Williams.

The people kept taking us south and about noon we were met by the first soldier, who took us to the first garrison. All the people and soldiers were very kind to us and made every effort to make our journey to Chusien comfortable.

He married a second time, Elizabet Ponstein was he name of his second wife. This lady died on 1 June 2004. I was not able to find the name of his first wife.

Robert C. Bourgeois died 13 November 2001 in Metairie, Louisiana

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