Robert L. Coffey

Robert Lewis Coffey, Jr.
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania's 26th district
In office January 3, 1949 – April 20, 1949
Preceded by	Harve Tibbott
Succeeded by	John P. Saylor
Personal details
Born	October 21, 1918 Chattanooga, Tennessee
Died	April 20, 1949 (aged 30)
Political party	Democratic

Robert Lewis Coffey, Jr. (October 21, 1918 – April 20, 1949) was a Democratic member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania.

Biography

Robert Coffey was born in Chattanooga, TN, and moved with his parents in early boyhood to Pennsylvania. He attended the University of Pittsburgh and Pennsylvania State University. He was employed in coal mines in all positions from coal loader to engineer. During World War II, he served in the United States Army Air Forces. He flew as a member of the 365th Fighter Group, called the "Hell Hawks," piloting the P-47 Thunderbolt. He commanded the group's 388th Fighter Squadron and was later deputy commander of the group. He was the group's top air ace with credit for six aerial victories during 97 missions. He was shot down and evaded capture.

He was the military air attaché for the United States Embassy in Santiago, Chile, from October 1945 to April 1948. He resigned his commission as a lieutenant colonel to pursue a political candidacy. He was commissioned a colonel in the United States Air Force Reserve. During his military service, he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal, Purple Heart, Bronze Star, Presidential Citation, and Belgian and French Croix de Guerre.

He was elected as a Democrat to the 81st Congress in 1948, defeating incumbent Republican Congressman Harve Tibbott, and served from January 3, 1949, until his death in an airplane accident at Kirtland Air Force Base near Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Death

On April 20, 1949, Coffey was killed in the crash of Lockheed F-80A-10-LO Shooting Star, 44-85438,^[1] c/n 080-1461,^[2] while on take-off from Kirtland AFB, New Mexico, at 1640 hrs. during a cross-country proficiency flight. He and fellow Hell Hawks pilot Lt. Col. William D. Ritchie had departed Kirtland after refuelling for March AFB, California, but due to apparent engine failure on take-off, the fighter never rose above 25 feet, skidded off end of runway, cartwheeled across an arroyo, and broke apart but did not burn. Coffey was killed instantly. He is buried in Arlington National Cemetery. The House of Representatives recessed for one day in his honor.^[3][4][5]

References

1. http://www.millionmonkeytheater.com/P-80.html
2. http://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_serials/1944_6.html
3. Dorr, Robert F., and Jones, Thomas D., "Hell Hawks!", Zenith Press, an imprint of MBI Publishing Company, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 2008, LCCN 2007-39558, ISBN 978-0-7603-2918-4, pages 304–305.
4. Michael Robert Patterson. "Robert Lewis Coffey, Jr., Colonel, United States Air Force & Member of Congress". Arlingtoncemetery.net. Retrieved 2010-11-25.
5. Coffee, Jack (2010-05-01). "Coffey/Coffee Call: Robert Lewis Coffey, Jr". Coffeycousins.blogspot.com. Retrieved 2010-11-25.

• United States Congress. "Robert L. Coffey (id: C000586)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.