Coons Merle M Capt

Assigned Aircraft	P-51D CG-C 44-14068 "The Worry Bird" (F. Birtciel)
Mission History	Not Known
Mission List	Not Known
Air Scores	5-1-0
Ground Scores	0-0
Score Detail	11 September 1944 Me-109 destroyed (air) Erfurt 11 September 1944 Me-109 probable (air) Erfurt 13 September 1944 Me-109 destroyed (air) Erfurt 02 November 1944 FW-190 destroyed (air) W/Merseburg 05 December 1944 Me-109 destroyed (air) N/Berlin 05 December 1944 FW-190 destroyed (air) N/Berlin
Notes	Born on 25th March 1921 in Arlington, Oregon. Graduated from high school in Gresham, Oregon in 1939. In June 1941, he sought an Aviation Cadet programme for pilot training with the Army Air Corps and gained that appointment in March 1942. Upon graduation with Class 43-B at Williams AAFB, Arizona, in February 1943, he received an assignment as an instructor pilot with the same training squadron where he received his advanced pilot training. After 13 months of duty, during which he logged more than 1100 hours as pilot and instructor pilot in AT-9's, AT-17's, AT-6's, P322's and P-38's, he departed Arizona as one of 30 volunteers for "immediate" combat duty. After a brief sojourn in Florida for P-47 qualification, followed by a 13 day boat ride, he arrived in England for combat duty with the Eighth Air Force. With more experience in and preferring the P-38, he succeeded in a bid for duty in a P-38 unit and joined the 38th Fighter Squadron at Wormingford. 06 June 1944 - Joined the 38th Fighter Squadron Retired with the rank of Colonel from the USAF on 1st April 1968.
Memories