Robert L. Coffey

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

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 Force. 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.

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 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 and served from January 3, 1949, until his death in an airplane accident at Kirtland Air Force Base near Albuquerque, New Mexico. Coffey was a colonel in the Air Force Reserve and was killed in an F-80A Shooting Star. A fellow 365th group veteran, Lt. Col. William D. Ritchie, was flying with him at the time of his death.

Coffey is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.

References

*http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=C000586 Biography of Robert L Coffey at the "Biographical Directory of the US Congress"