Robert L. Coffey | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromPennsylvania's26th district | |
| In office January 3, 1949 – April 20, 1949 | |
| Preceded by | Harve Tibbott |
| Succeeded by | John P. Saylor |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Robert Lewis Coffey Jr. (1918-10-21)October 21, 1918 Chattanooga, Tennessee, U.S. |
| Died | April 20, 1949(1949-04-20) (aged 30) Albuquerque, New Mexico, U.S. |
| Party | Democratic |
Robert Lewis Coffey Jr. (October 21, 1918 – April 20, 1949) was an American coal miner, World War II veteran, and politician who served briefly as aDemocratic member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromPennsylvania.
A former military fighter pilot, Coffey was killed after only four months in Congress when a military aircraft he was co-piloting crashed in an experimental flight.
Robert Coffey was born inChattanooga, Tennessee, and moved with his parents in early boyhood toPennsylvania. He attended theUniversity of Pittsburgh andPennsylvania State University.
He was employed incoal mines in all positions from coal loader to engineer.
DuringWorld War II, he served in theUnited States Army Air Forces. He flew as a member of the365th Fighter Group, called the "Hell Hawks," piloting theP-47 Thunderbolt. He commanded the group's388th Fighter Squadron and was later deputy commander of the group. He was the group's top airace with credit for six aerial victories during 97 missions. He was shot down and evaded capture.[citation needed]
He was the military air attaché for theUnited States Embassy inSantiago, Chile, from October 1945 to April 1948. He resigned his commission as alieutenant colonel to pursue a political candidacy. He was commissioned acolonel in theUnited States Air Force Reserve.
He was elected as a Democrat to the81st Congress in 1948, defeating incumbent Republican CongressmanHarve Tibbott, and served from January 3, 1949, until his death in an airplane accident atKirtland Air Force Base nearAlbuquerque, New Mexico.
Coffey was married to Eileen Mercado Parra, with whom he had three children: Robert Lewis, Eileen María and David Mario.
On April 20, 1949, Coffey was killed in the crash ofLockheed F-80A-10-LO Shooting Star,44-85438,[1] c/n 080-1461,[2] while on take-off fromKirtland AFB, New Mexico, at 1640 hrs during a cross-country proficiency flight. He and fellowHell Hawks pilot Lt. Col. William D. Ritchie had departed Kirtland after refueling forMarch AFB, California, but due to apparent engine failure on take-off, the fighter never rose above 25 feet (7.6 m), skidded off the end of the runway, cartwheeled across an arroyo, and broke apart but did not burn. Coffey was killed instantly. He is buried inArlington National Cemetery.[3] The House of Representatives recessed for one day in his honor.[4][5]
For his military service, he was awarded the following awards:[6]
 | United States Army Air Forces pilot badge |
  | Distinguished Flying Cross with two bronzeoak leaf clusters |
 | Bronze Star Medal |
 | Purple Heart |
  | Air Medal with four silver oak leaf clusters |
| Air Medal with silver oak leaf cluster(second ribbon required for accouterment spacing) |
 | Air Force Presidential Unit Citation |
 | American Defense Service Medal |
 | American Campaign Medal |
  | European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with silvercampaign star |
 | World War II Victory Medal |
 | Air Force Longevity Service Award |
_-_ribbon_bar.png) | Croix de Guerre with Palm (France) |
 | Croix de Guerre with Palm (Belgium) |
 | Order of Merit,degree unknown (Chile) |
| U.S. House of Representatives | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Member of the U.S. House of Representatives fromPennsylvania's 26th congressional district 1949 | Succeeded by |
