Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Second War Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross and Bronze Star group of fifteen awarded to Colonel John F. Coonan, U.S.A.F., a P-40 ‘Lightning’ and P-52 ‘Mustang’ fighter pilot credited with one Japanese ‘Zero’ fighter and a probable ‘Helen’ bomber, then three German aircraft over Europe, also flying in support of ground troops during operation ‘Market Garden’, later being shot down by a member of his own squadron and taken prisoner, he went on to serve for a further 31 years, commanding a flying F-100D Super Sabre squadron and became the first foreigner to command a R.A.A.F. squadron

United States of America, Legion of Merit, Legionnaire’s badge, gilt and enamel, crimp brooch; Distinguished Flying Cross, bronze, slot brooch, in case of issue; Bronze Star, with 2 cluster emblems on ribbon, slot brooch, in case of issue; Air Medal, bronze, in case of issue, with enamelled lapel miniature riband bar; Air Force Commendation Medal, bronze, with 2 oak leaf cluster emblems on riband, crimp brooch; American Defense Service Medal, bronze, slot brooch, in box of issue; Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal 1941-45, bronze; with two bronze star emblems on riband, crimp brooch, in box of issue; European African Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, bronze, slot brooch; Victory Medal 1945, bronze, slot brooch, in box of issue; National Defense Service Medal, bronze star on ribbon; National Defense Service Medal, crimp brooch, in box of issue; Armed Forces Expeditionary Forces medal, bronze, crimp brooch, in box of issue: Armed Forces Reserve medal, bronze, with two emblems, slot brooch; Vietnam Service Medal, bronze, crimp brooch; South Vietnam, Service Medal, 1 clasp, 1960, generally very fine or better (15) £1,000-£1,400

John F. Coonan was born in Boise, Idaho, on 24 April 1918, and entered the Air Service in 1941 as an aviation cadet. He flew P-40 (Lightning) fighters with 26th Fighter Squadron in the CBI (China-Burma-India) Theatre, being credited with shooting down one Japanese Zero aircraft on 25 February 1943, also claiming a “Helen” bomber as a probable. Transitioning to P-51s in the 38th Fighter Squadron and moving to Europe, Coonan brought down three German aircraft, on 13 September and 2 November, 1944, and 3 January 1945. On this latter day, which was his 34th combat mission, Coonan was leading a flight of eight when he was shot down by another member of his squadron, 1st Lieutenant Dudley Amoss, by accident, spending the rest of the war as a prisoner of War. Of the sortie, 2nd Lieutenant Jones reported:
‘Capt. Coonan was leading a flight of 8 Mustangs approx. 10-20 miles south of Ulm, Germany. (He was flying P-51D aircraft CG-P s/n 44-14358 “Portland Rose”). Several German trainer planes were spotted flying formation a few thousand feet below us. Captain Coonan led the attack and shot down one enemy plane. Several seconds later he said that he had been hit. At low altitude he passed over a small town and belly landed on a snow-covered field adjacent to this town. I took several camera shots of the airplane which seemed to be in good condition, and while doing this I did not observe the pilot's presence in or around the plane. The remaining seven planes then proceeded towards home.’

German J 2735, reported the capture of Captain Coonan at 1300 on 3 January 1945, at Gutensell, near Laupheim. The aircraft was reported 12 to 15 percent damaged. The report further stated that Captain Coonan was shot down by ‘friendly aircraft, Mustang!’ The letters on the aircraft were CG-P. The report, which was addressed to Evaluation Centre West, Oberursel, also contained the names of 16 pilots, (the entire 38th fighter Squadron), with their corresponding plane identification letters and pilot's name that had flown on that mission! This was one of the many reasons Hanns Scharff, the interrogator at Oberursel, could name familiar members of the prisoner's squadron to him.

While in prison camp, at Stalag Luft I, Coonan was quoted as saying that if he ‘caught that son-of-a-bitch (in his flight) who shot him down he'd kill him!’ Lieutenant Dudley Amoss recalls: ‘While at Stalag Luft I, I ran into Jack Coonan. He told me that his wingman had shot him down. I had to level with him and tell him that it was me who shot him down! I explained that I saw what appeared to be a lone Me-109 flying low on the deck, heading into Germany. It was a long, long, shot. I gave him a lot of lead and fired. He crash-landed. Much to my horror, as I passed over him, I recognized the plane as a P-51. Jack didn’t get angry. He just grimaced and shook his head.’

He stayed in the Air Force, serving in Greenland, England, Morocco, Iran, Vietnam, Burma, Pakistan and the Philippines. Additionally, during one assignment, he exchanged with an officer with the Royal Australian Air Force, being the first foreigner to command a R.A.A.F. squadron; 75 Squadron flying CAC Sabres. He also commanded the 1st T.F.S. flying F-100D Super Sabres. He received the Legion of Merit for planning U.S. air operations during the invasion of the Dominican Republic in 1965 and 2 clusters plus 3 Bronze Stars while serving in Vietnam. He retired has a Colonel (O-6) in 1975.

Sold with, Coonan’s medal riband bar, mounted for wear on uniform as pictured in portrait photograph, Senior pilots wings; pair of Colonels shoulder rank badges; Tactical Air Command patch. A large selection of original paperwork relating to Coonan’s service, including; flight log, service papers and some copied service papers, casualty reports etc, these housed in official Aircrew Standardization/Evaluations Records folder. Original newspaper cuttings, 2 x POW postcards from German camps; a quantity of original photographs taken throughout his career, some large including portraits in uniform wearing medal bar. Original award Certificates for Bronze star and Legion of Merit, along with the original citations to accompany the Bronze star, First Oak Leaf Cluster, Legion of Merit First Oak Leaf Cluster, Certificate of training, Air-Ground Operations School Diploma, crossing the equator certificate and Mach Busters Club certificate, the latter for exceeding the speed of sound in a U.S.A.F. F-100 Super Sabre.