World War II Honoree

Jackie Coogan

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Los Angeles, California

Honored By

Joe Arsena

Relationship

Movie Fan

HE ENLISTED IN THE ARMY MARCH 1941. AFTER PEARL HARBOR, HE REQUESTED TRANSFER TO AIR CORPS AS A GLIDER PILOT. AFTER GRADUATING FROM GLIDE SCHOOL, HE WAS MADE A FLIGHT OFFICER AND VOLUNTEERED FOR HAZARDOUS DUTY WITH THE 1ST AIR COMMANDO GROUP. IN DECEMBER 1943, THE UNIT WAS SENT TO INDIA WHERE IT AIRLIFTED CRACK BRITISH TROOPS UNDER GENERAL ORDE WINGATE BY USING CG-4A GLIDERS. THIS WAS DURING THE NIGHT AERIAL INVASION OF BURMA (MARCH 5, 1944.) THE TROOPS WERE LANDED IN A SMALL JUNGLE CLEARING 100 MILES BEHIND JAPANESE LINES.