Bernard Arthur Coburn

Military

Staff Sergeant Bernard Arthur Coburn was assigned to the 329th Bomb Squadron, the 93rd Bomb Group, in the 8th Air Force, USAAF, in Britain, as a waist gunner, detached (TDY) to the 9th Air Force, USAAF, for Operation Tidal Wave. He flew 25 combat missions, the Air Force's number of missions necessary to earn his way home. He flew on famous Ploesti bombing mission. 1 Aug 43. At the age of 38, he was one of the oldest gunners in the U.S. Army Air Force. ETD





Awards: Distinguished Flying Cross with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster - Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Cluster - WWII Victory Medal - European-African-Middle Eastern Theater Medal with 4 Battle Stars.

Connections

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Units served with

The insignia of the 93rd Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 84th Fighter Wing 405th Fighter Group 93rd Bomb Group 329th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 38002510 / O-666252
  • Highest Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: - Valient Virgin
  • Unit: 93rd Bomb Group 329th Bomb Squadron

Missions

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Danbury, CT 27 April 1906 Son of Janos and Veronika [Hornjak] Coburn.

Enlisted

Cleveland, OH 18 May 1942 Cleveland, Ohio

Died

Cleveland, OH 7 February 1950

Buried

Holy Cross Cemetery Akron, Summit County, OH 11 February 1950 Holy Cross Cemetery Akron, Summit County, Ohio

Revisions

Date
ContributorKickapoo
Changes
Sources

Details added. - Kickapoo

Date
ContributorKickapoo
Changes
Sources

Added details. - Kickapoo

Date
Changes
Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / Ploesti by Dugan & Stewat