Robert Thornton Coale

Military
UPL 81063 UPL 81063 Robert K. Ritchie Crew
47th BG - 97th BS - 12th AF
L to R: Robert K. Ritchie (P), Archie D. Mull (G), Robert T. Coale (G), Harold D. Hackett (RN)
This crew was shot down flying A-20K 44-577 (not the A-20B in photo) on 23 Feb 1945.
Ritchie was KIA. Coale was not onboard. Mull was captured. Hackett evaded and returned to duty.

Cropped from image media-47532.jpeg (media id 44251)
http://www.47thbombgroup.org/pictures.html

Object Number - UPL 81063 - Robert K. Ritchie Crew 47th BG - 97th BS - 12th AF L to R: Robert K. Ritchie (P), Archie D. Mull (G), Robert T. Coale (G), Harold D. Hackett...

Assigned to 97BS, 47BG, 12AF USAAF. 60+ x combat missions. ETD





Awards: AM (3OLC), GC, NSDM, WWII Victory, EAME (4 x battle stars), AF Longevity Service Award.

Connections

See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.

Units served with

A-26 Invaders, including (serial number 43-22575) of the 47th Bomb Group, 12th Air Force lined up in Italy.

47th Bomb Group

  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Twelfth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

97th Bomb Squadron

  • Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
  • Air Force: Twelfth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

Places

Capodichino

  • Site type: Airfield
  • Known as: Naples International Airport
Ground personnel of the 51st Fighter Group, 10th Air Force work on a P-47 Thunderbolt (serial number 42-29264). Handwritten caption on reverse: '51 FG, 316 FS, [illegible].'

Grosetto

  • Site type: Airfield
  • Known as: Grosetto Main

Poretta

  • Site type: Airfield
  • Known as: Bastia – Poretta Airport

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Majestic, Alabama 21 March 1924 Son of Simeone and Jennie Mae [Bailey] Coale.

Died

Nacogdoches, Texas 13 July 2017
Bayview, Alabama 213 Shore Avenue Worked for U.S. Pipe and Foundry

Other

Assigned to the 47th Bomb Group

Capodochino Airfield, Italy Completed a 60 mission tour

Revisions

Date
ContributorAl_Skiff
Changes
Sources

https://www.fold3.com/image/164493881
https://www.fold3.com/record/84086597/robert-t-coale-wwii-army-enlistme…
https://www.lairdfh.net/obituary/Robert-Coale
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/226096496/robert-thornton-coale

Date
Contributor466thHistorian
Changes
Sources

https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/2238/images/43992_07_0…
"47th Bomb Group" - Turner Publishing, page 73

Robert Thornton Coale: Gallery (2 items)

Object number: UPL 47532 - Robert K. Ritchie Crew 47th BG - 97th BS - 12th AF...