World War II Honoree
World War II Veteran
William P. Coburn
Branch of Service
U.S. Army Air Force
Hometown
Boise, Idaho
Relationship
Self
ENLISTED U.S. ARMY AIR CORPS DECEMBER 1941. BASIC AND PILOT TRAINING IN SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS. TOOK B-17 BOMBER TRAINING IN EPHRATA, WASHINGTON. ASSIGNED TO 305TH HEAVY BOMBER GROUP AT CHELVESTON, ENGLAND. FLEW 30 MISSIONS OVER GERMANY 1943-1944. FINISHED TOUR SEVEN DAYS PRIOR TO D-DAY. RETURNED TO U.S. SEPTEMBER 1944 WITH 385 HOURS OF COMBAT, RECEIVING THE DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS, AIR MEDAL WITH FOUR CLUSTERS, TWO BATTLE STARS AT THE AGE OF 23. RETIRED FROM U.S. AIR FORCE WITH 26 YEARS OF SERVICE WITH THE RANK OF FULL COLONEL.