Eugene Seeley Coler

{{Infobox military person

| name =Eugene Seeley Coler

| image =

| caption =

| birth_date = 13 January 1896

| death_date = {{death-date and age|30 August 1953|13 January 1896}}

| placeofburial_label =

| placeofburial =

| birth_place =New York, New York, USA

| death_place =Gerrard's Cross, Buckinghamshire, England

| placeofburial_coordinates =

| nickname =

| allegiance = {{flag|United Kingdom|23px}}
{{flag|United States|23px}}

| branch = Royal Air Force (United Kingdom)
United States Army Air Forces
United States Air Force

| serviceyears = 1917-1918 (UK)
1942-1953 (USA)

| rank = Lieutenant (UK)
Colonel (USA)

| unit = Royal Air Force

United States Army Air Forces

United States Air Force

| commands =

| battles = 50px 50px
World War I
World War II

| awards =Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)

| relations =

| laterwork =Served in American air units during World War II and Korean War

}}

Lieutenant (later Colonel) Eugene Seeley Coler (1896–1953) was an American World War I flying ace who served in the British Royal Flying Corps and Royal Air Force. He was credited with 16 aerial victories.{{cite web |url=http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/usa/coler.php |title=Eugene Seeley Coler |website=www.theaerodrome.com |access-date=9 January 2010}}

Early life and service

Although born in New York City, Coler was native to Newark, New Jersey.{{cite web |url=http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/usa/coler.php |title=Eugene Seeley Coler |website=www.theaerodrome.com |access-date=9 January 2010}} His parents were William Nichols (Jr.) and Lillie Seeley Coler, and his brother was William Nichols Coler III.{{cite web |url=https://archive.org/stream/newyorkstatespro05harr/newyorkstatespro05harr_djvu.txt |title= |website= |access-date=9 January 2010}}{{title missing|date=May 2022|format=.txt}}

Eugene Coler joined the RFC in Canada in 1917.{{cite web |url=http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/usa/coler.php |title=Eugene Seeley Coler |website=www.theaerodrome.com |access-date=9 January 2010}} After several weeks training, he embarked for England on 29 October 1917. He received further flight training in England. On 12 March 1918, he was assigned to No. 11 Squadron RFC (later to become No. 11 Squadron RAF), which was operating from Vert Galand on the Western Front. At that time, No. 11 Squadron was flying long range reconnaissance sorties.{{cite book |title=In clouds of glory: American airmen who flew with the British during the Great War |page= 69 }}

World War I combat service

Flying Bristol F.2 Fighter No. C792, he and his gunner Cyril Gladman{{cite web |url=http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/usa/coler.php |title=Eugene Seeley Coler |website=www.theaerodrome.com |access-date=9 January 2010}} attacked a formation of 14 German fighters on 9 May 1918.{{cite book |title=In clouds of glory: American airmen who flew with the British during the Great War |page= 70 }} They drove three German Pfalz D.III fighters down out of control on this single combat sortie.{{cite web |url=http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/usa/coler.php |title=Eugene Seeley Coler |website=www.theaerodrome.com |access-date=9 January 2010}}

On 13 August 1918, Coler and Gladman destroyed three Fokker D.VIIs and drove down two others out of control within a few minutes; Seeley won the DFC for this mission.{{cite web |url=http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/usa/coler.php |title=Eugene Seeley Coler |website=www.theaerodrome.com |access-date=9 January 2010}} The action began when Coler dived on 20 Fokker D.VIIs, setting one with a red nose and yellow fuselage on fire from a range of ten yards. He sent another spinning down out of control before his Vickers machine guns jammed. While he was clearing the jam, Gladman knocked a Fokker down out of control. As Coler cleared his guns' stoppage, a Fokker crossed before him 50 yards out; Coler fired 60 rounds into it and set it afire. Gladman then was shot in the right shoulder while changing ammunition drums. Nothing daunted, he shot it down left-handed, sending it down in flames.{{cite book |title=In clouds of glory: American airmen who flew with the British during the Great War |page= 72 }}

The following day, Coler and Gladman were forced to land behind British lines, the gunner being severely wounded. The German responsible seems to have been Otto Könnecke.{{cite book |title= Bristol F2 Fighter Aces of World War I |pages=25–26 }}

On 30 August, Coler changed gunners and planes, flying Bristol F.2 Fighter No. E2215 when he destroyed a Pfalz D.XII and a Fokker D.VII almost simultaneously. He then destroyed two enemy fighter planes each on 6 September, 15 September, and 16 September. On the last date, he was wounded in action.{{cite web |url=http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/usa/coler.php |title=Eugene Seeley Coler |website=www.theaerodrome.com |access-date=9 January 2010}} Bruno Loerzer scored his 40th victory by puncturing the fuel tank and cutting the aileron controls on Coler's Bristol and driving it into a crash-landing near Beugny. While Coler was power diving into this controlled crash, two Germans who were chasing him overran their prospective target and were shot down by Coler and his gunner.{{cite book |title= Bristol F2 Fighter Aces of World War I |pages=25–26 }}

After World War I

He became a physician after the war; his practice was in New York City.{{cite book |title= American Aces of World War I |pages = 32–33 }} During World War II, he served as a bomber pilot of the 319th Bombardment Group of the United States Army Air Corps in North Africa. He also served in Italy and England; the latter assignment was with the Eighth Air Force{{cite web |url=http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/usa/coler.php |title=Eugene Seeley Coler |website=www.theaerodrome.com |access-date=9 January 2010}} with the rank of major.{{cite book |title= American Aces of World War I |pages = 32–33 }}

In 1951, Coler returned to service once again, with the United States Air Force. He was assigned to the 7th Air Division as the air division's flight surgeon at the time of his death.{{cite web |url=http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/usa/coler.php |title=Eugene Seeley Coler |website=www.theaerodrome.com |access-date=9 January 2010}}{{cite book |title= Bristol F2 Fighter Aces of World War I |pages=25–26 }} It was during this assignment that he treated victims of the Harrow train crash of 8 October 1952.http://www.mcl-london-uk.org/Bulldog%20Spring%202007.pdf {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081121174450/http://www.mcl-london-uk.org/Bulldog%20Spring%202007.pdf |date=2008-11-21 }} Retrieved 9 January 2010. His service in American military aviation earned him the Legion of Merit and the Bronze Star Medal.{{cite book |title= American Aces of World War I |pages = 32–33 }}

Honors and awards

Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC)

Lieut. (A./Capt.) Eugene Seeley Coler. (FRANCE)

Bold in attack and skilful in manoeuvre, this officer never hesitates to engage the enemy regardless of disparity in numbers. On 13 August when on escort duty, he dived on a formation of twenty enemy aeroplanes. In the engagement that ensued he himself destroyed three and his observer two making a total of five machines destroyed in the fight; a fine performance, reflecting great credit on the officers concerned.Supplement to the London Gazette, 3 December 1918 (31046/14320)

See also

References

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Bibliography

  • In clouds of glory: American airmen who flew with the British during the Great War. James J. Hudson. University of Arkansas Press, 1990. {{ISBN|1-55728-124-6}}, {{ISBN|978-1-55728-124-1}}
  • Bristol F2 Fighter Aces of World War I. Jon Guttman, Harry Dempsey. Osprey Publishing, 2007. {{ISBN|1-84603-201-6}}, {{ISBN|978-1-84603-201-1}}
  • American Aces of World War I. Norman Franks, Harry Dempsey. Osprey Publishing, 2001. {{ISBN|1-84176-375-6}}, {{ISBN|978-1-84176-375-0}}

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Category:1896 births

Category:1953 deaths

Category:American World War I flying aces

Category:Aviators from New York (state)

Category:Recipients of the Legion of Merit

Category:United States Air Force officers

Category:United States Army Air Forces officers

Category:United States Army Air Forces pilots of World War II

Category:Recipients of the Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)