Robert L. Coffey
| Robert Lewis Coffey, Jr. | |
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| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania's 26th district |
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In office January 3, 1949 – April 20, 1949 |
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| 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.
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.
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