World War II Honoree

Edward M. 'Ed' Coon

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

APPLIED, AND WAS SELECTED FOR AIRCREW TRAINING IN THE AVIATION CADET PROGRAM AS A NAVIGATOR. UPON SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF PREFLIGHT SCHOOL, FLEXIBLE GUNNERY SCHOOL, AND BASIC AND ADVANCED NAVIGATION TRAINING, WAS AWARDED HIS SILVER NAVIGATOR WINGS AND COMMISSIONED A SECOND LIEUTENANT. NEXT, ASSIGNED FOR UNIT TRAINING IN THE AIRCRAFT HE WOULD FLY ON IN COMBAT. SERVED AS A B-29 'SUPERFORTRESS' VERY HEAVY BOMBER NAVIGATOR, OVERSEAS IN THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC THEATER, DURING THE WAR. FLEW ON 24 COMBAT BOMBING MISSIONS DURING HIS TOUR OF DUTY. AWARDED THE DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS WITH BRONZE OAK LEAF CLUSTER (2 AWARDS), AIR MEDAL WITH 4 BRONZE OAK LEAF CLUSTERS (5 AWARDS), GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL, AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL. HONORABLY DISCHARGED AFTER 3 YEARS SERVICE AND ISSUED THE HONORABLE SERVICE LAPEL BUTTON. RECALLED TO ACTIVE DUTY AFTER THE WAR AND SERVED UNTIL AGAIN HONORABLY DISCHARGED.