Ernest Franklin Coble Jr
Military
Object Number - UPL 36835 - Ernest Coble
His other lifelong passion was flying which began for him when he volunteered for World War II at the age of 20. Erk was a B17 Co-pilot in the European Theater and flew numerous bombing missions where he became a Purple Heart recipient. After an honorable discharge from the war, his many experiences led to a career in flying. From crop dusting in the southern states to eventually beginning his career with Pan American World Airways, he circled the globe many times, including 36 missions ferrying soldiers into and out of Vietnam. Starting out on turbo-prop aircraft, he ultimately retired as a Boeing 747 Captain. He was also a recreational pilot and owned both single engine and twin-engine airplanes.
Connections
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Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
Places
- Site type: Airfield
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Born |
Rockingham, North Carolina | 3 July 1924 | |
|
Enlisted |
Charlotte, North Carolina | 11 December 1942 | |
|
Died |
Raleigh, North Carolina | 2 January 2019 | Transitions LifeCare |
Revisions
Dave Wentzel
8th AF Historical Society (Metrolina Chapter)
His other lifelong passion was flying which began for him when he volunteered for World War II at the age of 20. Erk was a B17 pilot in the European Theater and flew numerous bombing missions where he became a Purple Heart recipient. After an honorable discharge from the war, his many experiences led to a career in flying. From crop dusting in the southern states to eventually beginning his career with Pan American World Airways, he circled the globe many times, including 36 missions ferrying soldiers into and out of Vietnam. Starting out on turbo-prop aircraft, he ultimately retired as a Boeing 747 Captain. He was also a recreational pilot and owned both single engine and twin-engine airplanes.
100th Bomb Group Foundation Directory, 2000 - 2001 / Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia
