Son of Janos and Veronika (Hornjak) Coburn of Connecticut.
Husband of Alice Eugenia "Jean" (Smith) Grieve Coburn.
Bernie and Jean were married on 2 Jan. 1936 in Ripley N.Y.
They made their home in Cleveland, Ohio.
Bernie was a chief instructor of Aerial gunners and Aeriel Engineers. At the age of 38 was one of the oldest waist gunners in the Air Force and flew over 25 combat missions. He was also the Aerial Engineer. He was in the 329th BS 93BG(Heavy) 8th Air Force T/Sgt during WW2. He participated in the European African Middle Eastern operations: Participated in African, Sicilian, & Italian Campaigns, European Air Offensive. Of his many combat flights, one in particular was Operation TIDAL WAVE where many B24D Liberators attacked the oil refineries at PLOESTI, Romania on August 1, 1943. He was one of the crew of the B-24 Liberator (#42-40765) called the 'Valient Virgin'. They returned safely to Libya after winning that battle. 57 other B-24s did not.
Medals received: EAME Ribbon with four bronze battle stars, Presidential Unit Citation, Air Medal Ribbon with Three (3) Oak Leaf Clusters, Distinguished Flying Cross with one (1) Oak Leaf, ETO Ribbon with 3 stars, and the WW2 Victory Medal.
Husband of Alice Eugenia "Jean" (Smith) Grieve Coburn.
Bernie and Jean were married on 2 Jan. 1936 in Ripley N.Y.
They made their home in Cleveland, Ohio.
Bernie was a chief instructor of Aerial gunners and Aeriel Engineers. At the age of 38 was one of the oldest waist gunners in the Air Force and flew over 25 combat missions. He was also the Aerial Engineer. He was in the 329th BS 93BG(Heavy) 8th Air Force T/Sgt during WW2. He participated in the European African Middle Eastern operations: Participated in African, Sicilian, & Italian Campaigns, European Air Offensive. Of his many combat flights, one in particular was Operation TIDAL WAVE where many B24D Liberators attacked the oil refineries at PLOESTI, Romania on August 1, 1943. He was one of the crew of the B-24 Liberator (#42-40765) called the 'Valient Virgin'. They returned safely to Libya after winning that battle. 57 other B-24s did not.
Medals received: EAME Ribbon with four bronze battle stars, Presidential Unit Citation, Air Medal Ribbon with Three (3) Oak Leaf Clusters, Distinguished Flying Cross with one (1) Oak Leaf, ETO Ribbon with 3 stars, and the WW2 Victory Medal.
Son of Janos and Veronika (Hornjak) Coburn of Connecticut.
Husband of Alice Eugenia "Jean" (Smith) Grieve Coburn.
Bernie and Jean were married on 2 Jan. 1936 in Ripley N.Y.
They made their home in Cleveland, Ohio.
Bernie was a chief instructor of Aerial gunners and Aeriel Engineers. At the age of 38 was one of the oldest waist gunners in the Air Force and flew over 25 combat missions. He was also the Aerial Engineer. He was in the 329th BS 93BG(Heavy) 8th Air Force T/Sgt during WW2. He participated in the European African Middle Eastern operations: Participated in African, Sicilian, & Italian Campaigns, European Air Offensive. Of his many combat flights, one in particular was Operation TIDAL WAVE where many B24D Liberators attacked the oil refineries at PLOESTI, Romania on August 1, 1943. He was one of the crew of the B-24 Liberator (#42-40765) called the 'Valient Virgin'. They returned safely to Libya after winning that battle. 57 other B-24s did not.
Medals received: EAME Ribbon with four bronze battle stars, Presidential Unit Citation, Air Medal Ribbon with Three (3) Oak Leaf Clusters, Distinguished Flying Cross with one (1) Oak Leaf, ETO Ribbon with 3 stars, and the WW2 Victory Medal.
Husband of Alice Eugenia "Jean" (Smith) Grieve Coburn.
Bernie and Jean were married on 2 Jan. 1936 in Ripley N.Y.
They made their home in Cleveland, Ohio.
Bernie was a chief instructor of Aerial gunners and Aeriel Engineers. At the age of 38 was one of the oldest waist gunners in the Air Force and flew over 25 combat missions. He was also the Aerial Engineer. He was in the 329th BS 93BG(Heavy) 8th Air Force T/Sgt during WW2. He participated in the European African Middle Eastern operations: Participated in African, Sicilian, & Italian Campaigns, European Air Offensive. Of his many combat flights, one in particular was Operation TIDAL WAVE where many B24D Liberators attacked the oil refineries at PLOESTI, Romania on August 1, 1943. He was one of the crew of the B-24 Liberator (#42-40765) called the 'Valient Virgin'. They returned safely to Libya after winning that battle. 57 other B-24s did not.
Medals received: EAME Ribbon with four bronze battle stars, Presidential Unit Citation, Air Medal Ribbon with Three (3) Oak Leaf Clusters, Distinguished Flying Cross with one (1) Oak Leaf, ETO Ribbon with 3 stars, and the WW2 Victory Medal.
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