Coles, William John, CMSgt

Deceased

Service Photo

Service Details

Last Rank
Chief Master Sergeant

Last Primary AFSC/MOS
60790-Aircraft Loadmaster Superintendent

Last AFSC Group
Air Operations

Primary Unit
1971-1971, 60790, 61st Tactical Airlift Squadron

Service Years
1942 - 1971

Last Photo

Personal Details

Home State

Pennsylvania

Year of Birth
1920

This Military Service Page was created/owned by Toni Turk-Family to remember Coles, William John, CMSgt.

If you knew or served with this Airman and have additional information or photos to support this Page, please leave a message for the Page Administrator(s) HERE.

Contact Info

Home Town Etna, Allegheny, Pennsylvania	Last Address Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah
Date of Passing Dec 17, 1997
Location of Interment Blanding City Cemetery - Blanding, Utah

Official Badges

Air Training Command Master Instructor (post-1967)

Air Training Command Master Instructor (pre-1966)

Unofficial Badges

Military Associations and Other Affiliations

Non Commissioned Officers Association (NCOA)


	1948, Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), Post 2147, James King Jr. Post (Wichita Falls, Texas) - Chap. Page
	1971, Disabled American Veterans (DAV), Chapter 41 (Wichita Falls, Texas) - Chap. Page
	1971, Non Commissioned Officers Association (NCOA) - Assoc. Page
	1973, Air Force Sergeants Association (AFSA), AFSA 1054 (Sheppard AFB, Texas) - Chap. Page
	2012, Blanding Veterans Memorial - Assoc. Page

Additional Information

Last Known Activity:

Died Dec 17, 1997 - Salt Lake City, UT; buried Blanding, UT

Other Comments:

William Coles attained the following ranks: Aviation Cadet - 2 Mar 1943; Aviation Cadet (Sergeant) - 10 May 1943; Private - 23 Jun 1943; PFC - 13 Jul 1943; Corporal - 21 Feb 1944; Sergeant - 29 Jul 1944; Staff Sergeant - 28 Aug 1944;Tech Sergeant - 1 Jan 1945; Master Sergeant - 1 Apr 1952; Senior Master Sergeant - 1 Mar 1961; Chief Master Sergeant - 1 Apr 1964

William Coles was a crew member on the following aircraft: A-26, AC-130E, AT-6, B-17 (E, F, G), B-24D, B-25, B-26, B-29, B-32, B-36, B-47, B-50, C-7, C-45, C-46, C-47, C-47A, C-54 (D, G), C-74, C-118, C-119 (C, CF, F, G, J), C-121, C-122, C-123B, C-124, C-130 (A, B, E), C-133 (A, B), C-141, CL-44, H-21, HH-53, KB-50, KC-97 (E, F, G), KC-135, L-20, O-5, O-19, PT-17, T-29, XC-99

William Coles served in the following military units:

Enlisted Reserve Unit - 28 Aug 1942-3 Mar 1943

Nashville AAFCC, Nashville, TN Mar-Apr 1943

Maxwell Field, AL - Pre-Flight (pilot) - May-Jun 1943

Camden, SC - Primary Flight (pilot) - Jun-Jul 1943

Sioux Falls, SD - Radio Operator & Mechanic Jul-Dec 1943

Yuma AAF, Yuma, AZ - 306th SEFTG (Aerial Gunnery) - Dec 1943-Feb 1944

Rapid City, SD - R.T.U. - Feb-May 1944

Kimbolton RAF, England - APO 557, 524th Bombardment Squadron [Jul 1944]; 379th Bombardment Group (H) - Aug 1944-Jan 1945

Laredo AAF, Laredo, TX - Central School for Flexible Gunnery; 524th Bombardment Squadron - Mar-Sep 1945

USAF Reserve - 18 Jan 1949-1 Apr 1952 [Called to Active Duty - 11 Feb 1951]

Lowry AFB, Denver, CO - 3415th Technical Training Wing; 3415th Aircraft Gunnery Group; 3435th Training Squadron (NCOIC B-29 Gunnery Training; Academic Section) - Apr 1951 to Dec 1953 (TDY - NE: Offutt AFB; TX: Kelly AFB, Matagorda Island, Port O'Connor)

Donaldson AFB, Greenville, SC - Fourth Aerial Port Operations Squadron, (TAC) - Jan 1954-May 1954 (TDY - SC: Charleston AFB)

Chateauroux AB, France - APO 10, Fourth Aerial Port Operations Sq, TAC (NCOIC Operations and Training Section; Transportation Services; Combat Operations) - May 1954-May 1957 (TDY - Algeria; Denmark: Copenhagen; England: Fairford AB, Lyneham RAF, Old Sarum RAF, Salisbury, Wiltshire RAF; France: Deols AB, Dreux-Senonches, Evreux-Fauville AB, Paris, Toul Rosiere AB; French Morocco: Nouasseur AFLD; Germany: Aschaffenburg, Bitburg AB, Hahn AB, Landstuhl AB, Ramstein AFB, Rhein-Main AB, Wiesbaden AB; Greece: Athens; Italy: Brindisi, Rome; Libya: Wheelus AFLD [Tripoli]; Portugal; Spain: Madrid; Turkey; Yugoslavia)

Chanute AFB, Rantoul, IL - 3499th Mobile Training Wing; 3493rd Field Training Squadron; 3497th Mobile Training Squadron - Jun 1957-Aug 1957 (TDY - OR: Portland; WA: Seattle)

Sewart AFB, Smyrna, TN - [Detached from Chanute] 304th Field Training Detachment; C130-2 Mobile Training Detachment; 2nd Aerial Port Sq - Aug 1957-Aug 1958 (TDY - CA: McClellan AFB; CO: Lowry AFB; GA: Robins AFB; KY: Campbell AFB; NC: Pope AFB, Seymour-Johnson AFB; TX: Foster AFB; UT: Hill AFB; WA: Larson AFB)

MacDill AFB, Tampa, FL - [Detached from Chanute] 311 Field Training Detachment; 306th Air Refueling Sq (SAC) - Aug 1958-Jul 1959 (TDY - GA: Hunter AFB)

Sheppard AFB, Wichita Falls, TX - Sheppard Technical Training Center (ATC) - 3764th School Squadron; 3772nd Sq - Jul 1959-Oct 1961 (TDY - AZ: Douglas, Phoenix; CA: Beale AFB, Castle AFB, Long Beach AFB, March AFB, McClellan AFB, Ontario International Airport, Travis AFB; FL: McCoy AFB, Tyndall AFB; GA: Hunter AFB, Moody AFB; HI: Hickam AFB; IL: Chanute AFB, O'Hare International, Scott AFB; IN: Bunker Hill AFB; KS: McConnell AFB; MI: Kinchloe AFB, MO: Malden AB, Richards-Gebaur AFB; NC: Douglas Municipal Airport, Pope AFB; NE: Lincoln AFB; NM: Kirtland AFB; NV: Nellis AFB; SC: Charleston AFB, Donaldson AFB; TX: Amarillo AFB, Carswell AFB, Connally AFB, Dyess AFB, Ellington AFB, Kelly AFB, Randolph AFB, Reese AFB; UT: Hill AFB, Salt Lake City; VA: Langley AFB; WA: McChord AFB, Paine AFB, SEA-TAC International Airport; WI: Truax Field *** Japan: Tachikawa AB; Midway Island; Okinawa: Kadena AB; Wake Island).

Chateauroux AS, France - APO 10, 1616th Support Squadron (MATS) - Nov 1961-Jul 1962 (TDY - Germany: Rhein- Main; Evreux-Fauville AB, France - APO 253, 5th Aerial Port Squadron, 322nd Air Division; 317 Combat Support Group - Jul 1962-Aug 1963 (TDY - DC: Washington; TX: Kelly AFB, Sheppard AFB *** France: Chateauroux AS; Germany: Berlin, Wiesbaden; India: Palam AF [New Delhi]; Italy: Aviano; Libya; Pakistan; Saudi Arabia; Turkey: Adana).

Sheppard AFB, Wichita Falls, TX - 3769th School Squadron; 3750th Technical School; 3773rd School Squadron; 3782nd Instructors Squadron (ATC) - Aug 1963-Apr 1971 (TDY - AZ: Davis-Monthan, Williams AFB; CA: Alameda NAS, Beale AFB, George AFB, Hamilton AFB, Los Alamitos NAS, Los Angeles International, Mather AFB, McClellan AFB, Norton AFB, Ontario International Airport, Travis AFB; CO: Buckley ANG; CT: Bradley Field; DE: Dover AFB; FL: Homestead AFB, Pensacola NAS; GA: Hunter AFB, Moody AFB, Robins AFB, Turner AFB; HI: Hickam AFB; ID: Mountain Home; IL: Chanute AFB; IN: Grissom AFB; KS: Boeing-Wichita; MA: Logan Airport - Boston; MD: Andrews AFB; ME: Loring AFB; MS: Keesler AFB; ND: Minot AFB; NE: Offutt AFB; NJ: Atlantic City Airport, McGuire AFB; NM: Cannon AFB, Kirtland AFB; NV: Stead AFB; NY: New York NAS, Niagara Falls Municipal Airport, Stewart AFB; OH: Clinton Co. AFB, Lockbourne AFB, Patterson AFB; OK: Tinker AFB; SC: Charleston AFB, Shaw AFB; TX: Bergstrom AFB, Carswell AFB, Kelly AFB, Randolph AFB, Reese AFB, Webb AFB; UT: Hill AFB; VA: Langley AFB; WA: McChord AFB *** Japan: Yokota AB; Philippines: Clark AB; Vietnam: DaNang AB; Wake Island).

Little Rock AFB, Jacksonville, AR - 64th Tactical Airlift Training Wing; 61st Tactical Airlift Squadron (TAC) - Apr 1971-Aug 1971.

Spouse: Margaret Arminta (Peggy) Shea
Parents: William John Coles & Irene Barbara Schneider (Snyder)

1944-1945, B-17 Flying Fortress

From Year 1944	To Year 1945

Personal Memories

S/Sgt William J. Coles, Jr., Tail Gunner, was in the 379th Bombardment Group and flew missions with the 524th Bomb Squadron from 9/13/44 to 1/1/45. He flew in different positions: Nose Togglier (Bombardier), Radio Operator/Gunner, and Waist Gunner, but flew most of his missions in the Tail Gunner's position. He flew the following missions with the 524th Bomb Squadron:
176 WG ("Blue Blazing Blizzard" 42-31720 WA-M - 524th) [7/29/44 - Merseburg - synthetic oil];
177 WG ("Tag-A-Long" 42-31663 LF-G - 526th) [7/31/44 - Munich - marshalling yards];
178 WG ("Miss Liberty" 42-37570 WA-K - 524th) [8/1/44 - Orleans/Bricy - airdrome];
182 WG (42-37851 FO-C - 527th) [8/5/44 - Hanover - aircraft factory];
184 WG ("Goo Goo" 43-37851 WA-O - 524th) [8/7/44 - Houdan - troop support];
185 WG ("Tag-A-Long" 42-31663 LF-G - 526th) [8/8/44 - Caen - troop support];
186 WG (44-6172 LF-D - 526th) [8/9/44 - Pirmasens - shoe factory];
188 WG ("Patches" 42-39800 LF-T - 526th) [8/12/44 - Metz - marshalling yards];
189 WG ("Miss Liberty" 43-37570 WA-K - 524th) [8/13/44 - Rouen - troop support];
192 WG ("London Avenger" 42-31228 FR-F - 525th) [8/24/44 - Merseburg - synthetic oil]; [landed away - Beccles, ENG]
204 NG (43-37677 WA-A - 524th) [9/13/44 - Merseburg - 9/13/44 - synthetic oil];
207 WG ("The Thumper" 43-38272 FR-D - 525th) [9/21/44 - Mainz - marshalling yards];
208 WG ("Boomerang's Big Friend" 43-37855 WA-T - 524th) [9/25/44 - Frankfurt - marshalling yards];
211 NG ("The Lost Angel" 42-38183 FR-C - 525th) [9/28/44 - Magdeburg - ordinance plant]; [MACR #9363]
212 NG ("Miss Liberty" 43-37570 WA-K - 524th) [9/30/44 - Munster - marshalling yards];
213 NG (43-38049 FO-S - 527th) [10/2/44 - Cologne - marshalling yards];
219 TG ("Goo Goo" 43-37851 WA-O - 524th) [10/11/44 - Wesseling - synthetic oil];
221 TG ("Goo Goo" 43-37851 WA-O - 524th) [10/15/44 - Cologne - marshalling yards];
222 TG ("Goo Goo" 43-37851 WA-O - 524th) [10/17/44 - Cologne - marshalling yards];
223 TG ("Lucy" 42-107014 FO-K - 527th) [10/18/44 - Cologne - marshalling yards];
226 NG ("Goo Goo" 43-37851 WA-O - 524th) [10/25/44 - Gelsenkirchen - synthetic oil];
229 TG ("Goo Goo" 43-37851 WA-O - 524th) [11/1/44 - Gelsenkirchen - synthetic oil];
230 TG (44-8110 WA-Y - 524th) [11/2/44 - Sterkrade - synthetic oil];
231 TG ("Goo Goo" 43-37851 WA-O - 524th) [11/4/44 - Bottrop - synthetic oil];
232 TG ("Goo Goo" 43-37851 WA-O - 524th) [11/5/44 - Frankfurt - aircraft component];
235 TG (43-38654 FO-B - 526th) [11/9/44 - Metz Area - gun positions/troop support];
238 TG (43-38049 FO-S - 527th) [11/16/44 - Eschweiler Area - troop support];
239 TG ("The Lost Angel" 42-38183 FR-C - 525th) [11/20/44 - Gelsenkirchen - synthetic oil];
240 TG (43-38695 WA-Q - 524th) [11/21/44 - Merseburg - synthetic oil];
244 TG (43-38695 WA-Q - 524th) [11/29/44 - Misburg - synthetic oil];
252 RG ("Miss Liberty" 43-37570 WA-K - 524th) [12/24/44 - Merzhausen/Kirchgons - airdromes];
254 RG ("Lucky Patch" 44-6507 LF-P - 526th) [12/28/44 - Bruhl - marshalling yards];
255 RG ("Miss Liberty" 43-37570 WA-K - 524th) [12/29/44 - Wittlich - communication center];
256 RG ("Lucky Patch" 44-6507 LF-P - 526th) [12/30/44 - Kaiserslautern - marshalling yards];
257 RG ("Pipe Dream" 43-38874 LF-U - 526th) [12/31/44 - Neuss - marshalling yards];
258 RG ("Miss Liberty" 43-38570 WA-K - 524th) [1/1/45 - Gottingen/Kassel - marshalling yards].
WG = Waist Gunner; NG = Nose Gunner, TG = Tail Gunner, RG = Radio/Gunner.

Image	B-17 Flying Fortress Details
	Aircraft/Missile Information Specifications Model Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress Length 74.74 ft \| 22.78 m Width 103.74 ft \| 31.62 m Height 19.09 ft \| 5.82 m Engine(s) 4 x Wright Cyclone R-1820-97 radial piston engines generating 1,200 hp each. Empty Weight 36,136 lbs \| 16,391 kg MTOW 72,003 lbs \| 32,660 kg Max Speed 287 mph \| 462 km/h \| 249 kts Max Range 2,001 miles \| 3,220 km Ceiling 35,597 ft \| 10,850 m \| 6.7 miles Climb Rate 540.5 ft/min (164.7 m/min) Hardpoints 0 Armament 2 x 12.7mm machine guns in powered dorsal turret 2 x 12.7mm machine guns in powered "belly" turret 2 x 12.7mm machine guns in tail gun position 1 x 12.7mm machine gun in left front "cheek" position 1 x 12.7mm machine gun in right front "cheek" position 1 x 12.7mm machine gun in left waist position 1 x 12.7mm machine gun in right waist position 1 x 12.7mm machine gun in radio operator's midship position (removed on later models) 2 x 12.7mm machine guns in powered chin turret (later models) Maximum internal bombload of 7,983 kg (17,600 lbs). Accommodations 10 Operators United Kingdom and the United States of America.