World War II Honoree

Fred E. Coy, Jr.

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Louisville, Kentucky

Honored By

Dr. & Mrs. James E. Wheeler

Relationship

Friends

HIS PILOT TRAINING WAS IN THE GULF COAST COMMAND AND HE RECEIVED HIS PILOT WINGS AND A COMMISSION IN THE U.S. ARMY AIR FORCE ON JANUARY 6, 1944 AT FOSTER FIELD, TEXAS. AFTER GRADUATING FROM FLYING SCHOOL, HIS GUNNERY TRAINING WAS IN P-40 FIGHTER PLANES AT ARMY AIR FORCES PILOT SCHOOL, MARIANNA ARMY AIR FIELD, FLORIDA AND P-47 FIGHTER PLANES AT BLUETHENTHAL FIELD, NORTH CAROLINA. HE WAS IN THE EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (NORMANDY, NORTHERN FRANCE, GERMANY, ARDENNES) WHERE HE FLEW 130 COMBAT MISSIONS IN THE P-47 WITH THE 9TH AIR FORCE IN THE 367TH FIGHTER SQUADRON OF THE 358TH FIGHTER GROUP. THEIR MISSION WAS TO SUPPORT GENERAL GEORGE PATTON. HE WAS AWARDED THE DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS, THE AIR MEDAL WITH 20 OAK LEAF CLUSTERS AND THE EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN MEDAL WITH 4 BATTLE STARS. HE WAS HONORABLY DISCHARGED ON JUNE 30, 1945.