Merle M. Coons Fighter Ace Collection
Collection
Identifier: 2002-02-13-1284
The Merle M. Coons Fighter Ace Collection is a subset of the American Fighter Aces Collection and relates to the 1942-1968 United States Air Force military career of fighter pilot and ace Colonel Merle M. Coons. It includes primarily textual materials, such as military orders and records, flight records and a log book, and a scrapbook, as well as a photograph album and a small amount of loose photographs. It has been arranged into two series; textual materials and photographic materials.
Series I, textual materials, includes Coons' military orders and records, including general orders, awards and citations, training certificates, effectiveness reports, and enemy aircraft destroyed records. It also includes his flight record and log book, as well as a scrapbook. The bulk of the scrapbook is newspaper clippings about Coons and his military service, circa 1942-1968. There is also a 1997 obituary clipping and a three-page typed biographical document, written by Lois Coons Clark, Merle's second wife. Additionally there is a typed single-page memorial document, written by Jan, one of Coons' daughters. It is possible the scrapbook was started by Coons and later materials were added by family.
Series II, photographic materials, includes two loose group portraits and a photograph album with 157 prints. The two loose 8x10" black-and-white portraits depict Coons and other military personnel, likely fellow pilots, in front of an obscured aircraft. One of the images includes last names on the reverse. Coons is identified as "yours truly."
Photographs range in size from 3x5" to 8x10" and are primarily black-and-white vintage prints, except for one hand-colored portrait of Coons, one postcard, and a few modern digital prints. Images primarily depict fellow military personnel, such as fellow pilots with or without aircraft and engaged in recreational actitivies. It also includes images of aircraft, including the Lockheed P-38 Lightning and North American P-51 Mustang. The photograph album was disassembled for preservation reasons but materials were kept in original order. Photographs are affixed to the pages via photo corners and/or glue and often include a brief caption that provides contextual information, such as name, date, squadron, and/or location. See the Index note for a list of names found in the album.
Series I, textual materials, includes Coons' military orders and records, including general orders, awards and citations, training certificates, effectiveness reports, and enemy aircraft destroyed records. It also includes his flight record and log book, as well as a scrapbook. The bulk of the scrapbook is newspaper clippings about Coons and his military service, circa 1942-1968. There is also a 1997 obituary clipping and a three-page typed biographical document, written by Lois Coons Clark, Merle's second wife. Additionally there is a typed single-page memorial document, written by Jan, one of Coons' daughters. It is possible the scrapbook was started by Coons and later materials were added by family.
Series II, photographic materials, includes two loose group portraits and a photograph album with 157 prints. The two loose 8x10" black-and-white portraits depict Coons and other military personnel, likely fellow pilots, in front of an obscured aircraft. One of the images includes last names on the reverse. Coons is identified as "yours truly."
Photographs range in size from 3x5" to 8x10" and are primarily black-and-white vintage prints, except for one hand-colored portrait of Coons, one postcard, and a few modern digital prints. Images primarily depict fellow military personnel, such as fellow pilots with or without aircraft and engaged in recreational actitivies. It also includes images of aircraft, including the Lockheed P-38 Lightning and North American P-51 Mustang. The photograph album was disassembled for preservation reasons but materials were kept in original order. Photographs are affixed to the pages via photo corners and/or glue and often include a brief caption that provides contextual information, such as name, date, squadron, and/or location. See the Index note for a list of names found in the album.
Dates
- 1942-1997
Creator
- Coons, Merle M., 1921-1997 (Person)
Language of Materials
All materials are in English.
Conditions Governing Access
This collection is open for research and is accessible in the Dahlberg Research Center by appointment. For more information contact us.
Conditions Governing Use
The Museum of Flight (TMOF) Archives is the owner of the physical materials in the archives and makes available reproductions for research, publication, and other uses. Written permission must be obtained from TMOF archives before any publication use. TMOF does not necessarily hold copyright to all of the materials in the collections. In some cases, permission for use may require seeking additional authorization from copyright owners. Consult repository for more details.
Extent
0.75 Cubic Feet (1 full-width legal size document box and 1 half-width legal size document box)
Abstract
Colonel Merle Coons (1921-1997) was a United States Air Force fighter pilot, earning ace status during World War II. The collection is a subset of the American Fighter Aces Collection and includes primarily textual materials, such as military orders and records, flight records and a log book, and a scrapbook, as well as a photograph album and a small amount of loose photographs.
Biographical Note: Merle M. Coons
Colonel Merle Coons (1921-1997) was a United States Air Force fighter pilot, earning ace status during World War II. Merle Milton Coons was born to Milo and Helen Coons on March 25, 1921 in Arlington, Oregon. He graduated from high school in Gresham, Oregon in 1939. Coons received an aviation cadet appointment for training with the United States Army Air Corps in March 1942. He joined the 38th Fighter Squadron, 55th Fighter Group based at Wormingford, England in 1944. He flew 67 combat missions in the Lockheed P-38 Lightning and North American P-51 Mustang. Coons earned ace status by destroying five German fighters, plus one other probable victory in aerial combat. All of his aerial victories occurred while flying the P-51.
Coons was a graduate of both the U.S. Air Force Command & Staff College and the U.S. Air Force War College. He served with the United States Air Force for 26 years, retiring in April 1968 as a Colonel. His assignments were predominantly oriented to fighter aviation. Coons served at various locations, including Williams Air Force Base, Arizona and Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska.
After his retirement from the military, Coons joined Northrop Corporation's Marketing department. He remained there for 18 years, until his second retirement in 1986. He was active in many associations, including the American Fighter Ace Association, and spent time with friends and family. Coons died December 18, 1997 in Salt Lake City, Utah, survived by his second wife, Lois Clark Coons; three daughters, Jan, Sue, and Joyce; and eight grandchildren.
Source:
Biography derived from donor information and collection materials.
After his retirement from the military, Coons joined Northrop Corporation's Marketing department. He remained there for 18 years, until his second retirement in 1986. He was active in many associations, including the American Fighter Ace Association, and spent time with friends and family. Coons died December 18, 1997 in Salt Lake City, Utah, survived by his second wife, Lois Clark Coons; three daughters, Jan, Sue, and Joyce; and eight grandchildren.
Source:
Biography derived from donor information and collection materials.
Historical Note: American Fighter Aces Association
The American Fighter Aces Association (AFAA) was founded in 1960 to recognize the 1,450 combat pilots that received a special distinction of becoming an ace by destroying five (5) or more hostile aircraft in air-to-air combat. This includes aces in both World Wars, Korea and Vietnam.
The AFAA lists its objectives and purposes as "to preserve and promote the distinguished heritage of the American combat fighter Ace; to preserve the spirit of loyalty, fellowship and responsibility that motivates Fighter Aces; to support the understanding of and demand for sound, progressive aerospace weapons systems which will guarantee the security and peace of the United States; to encourage and stimulate young men and women to enter the aerospace field; and to sponsor educational programs designed to increase and broaden public knowledge of aerospace technology."
The AFAA sponsors an academic scholarship fund for youths who are primarily descendants of American Fighter Aces and fosters youth programs encouraging patriotism. Additional programs include award programs, such as the annual presentation of the Outstanding Cadet in Airmanship Award at the United States Air Force Academy and for outstanding fighter pilot "lead-in" trainee graduates from the Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps. The AFAA is affliated with The Museum of Flight (TMOF), the proud home of the AFAA.
Source and Further Reading:
http://www.americanfighteraces.org/index.html
The AFAA lists its objectives and purposes as "to preserve and promote the distinguished heritage of the American combat fighter Ace; to preserve the spirit of loyalty, fellowship and responsibility that motivates Fighter Aces; to support the understanding of and demand for sound, progressive aerospace weapons systems which will guarantee the security and peace of the United States; to encourage and stimulate young men and women to enter the aerospace field; and to sponsor educational programs designed to increase and broaden public knowledge of aerospace technology."
The AFAA sponsors an academic scholarship fund for youths who are primarily descendants of American Fighter Aces and fosters youth programs encouraging patriotism. Additional programs include award programs, such as the annual presentation of the Outstanding Cadet in Airmanship Award at the United States Air Force Academy and for outstanding fighter pilot "lead-in" trainee graduates from the Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps. The AFAA is affliated with The Museum of Flight (TMOF), the proud home of the AFAA.
Source and Further Reading:
http://www.americanfighteraces.org/index.html
Note on Arrangement
The collection has been kept in the original order as much as possible and is arranged into two series: Series I: textual materials and Series II: photographic materials. Materials within folders are arranged in loose chronological order, with undated materials at the rear of dated materials.
Custodial History
The Merle M. Coons Fighter Ace Collection is a part of the American Fighter Aces (AFAA) Collection, which came to The Museum of Flight from the Champlin Fighter Museum in Mesa, Arizona when it closed in 2003.
Accruals
No further accruals are expected.
Separated Materials
The following materials have been separated from the archival component and are kept in the Library:
Yearbooks:
The following materials have been separated from the archival component and are kept in Objects storage:
For more information contact us.
- Crosswind, Class 43-A, August 1942
- Crosswind, Class 43-B, September 1942
- Horizons, 1962
- Passing Light, Lemoore Army Flying School Class 43-B, November 1942
- Silver Wings, Williams Field, Class 43-B, 1943
- Silver Wings, Williams Field, Class 43-D, undated (circa 1943)
- Silver Wings, Williams Field, Class 43-E, undated (circa 1943)
- Silver Wings, Williams Field, Class 43-J, undated (circa 1943)
The following materials have been separated from the archival component and are kept in Objects storage:
- Assorted medals and wings
- Assorted ribbons and patches
For more information contact us.
Processing Information
Original order has been maintained as much as possible to preserve context. Original file folder titles have been used whenever possible and are denoted by quotation marks. All other file folder titles have been derived by the processing archivist. The photograph album and scrapbook were disassembled for preservation reasons; materials were kept in original order. Loose photographs have been been placed in protective sleeves.
Index
This is an index of the people who are identified in the photographs contained in the Merle M. Coons Fighter Ace Collection. Their pictures can be found in Box Two, Folders 3-4 of the Photographic material series. The names are taken from the captions next to the photographs. Please note many people are identified by last name only and some include a squadron number but many do not. The index is presented in alphabetical order.
Anderson Carr, 38th Fighter Squadron Chamberlin Childers Cornan Coward Eils, "Buck" Gould, Clifford G. Jackson Jenkins Jones, C. O., Lt. Col. - Group Ops Kavanaugh, 38th Fighter Squadron Kelly Landis, Major Ledyard Lewis, William H. Matney, Francis M. Markle Miller Potter Reider, Jack L., 38th Fighter Squadron Savage Shearman Snell Specker Staggs, 38th Fighter Squadron Still, Richard L., 38th Fighter Squadron Sturgess, 38th Fighter Squadron Tibert Totten, 38th Fighter Squadron West Yowell
- Aces (Fighter pilots)
- American Fighter Aces Association
- Coons, Lois Clark
- Coons, Merle M., 1921-1997
- Elmendorf Air Force Base (Alaska)
- Fighter pilots
- Lockheed P-38L Lightning
- Maxwell Air Force Base (Ala.)
- North American P-51 Mustang Family
- United States. Air Force
- United States. Army. Air Corps
- Williams Field (Ariz.)
- World War, 1939-1945
- certificates
- clippings (information artifacts)
- correspondence
- digital prints
- logs (records)
- military records
- orders (military records)
- photograph albums
- photographic postcards
- photographic prints
- scrapbooks
- theses
Creator
- Coons, Merle M., 1921-1997 (Person)
- Title
- Guide to the Merle M. Coons Fighter Ace Collection
- Status
- Completed - Level 3
- Author
- J.Parent
- Date
- 2019
- Description rules
- dacs
- Language of description
- English
- Edition statement
- 1st edition
Revision Statements
- April 2020: Updated Related Materials note.
Repository Details
Part of the The Museum of Flight Archives Repository
Contact:
9404 East Marginal Way South
Seattle Washington 98108-4097
206-764-7874
curator@museumofflight.org
9404 East Marginal Way South
Seattle Washington 98108-4097
206-764-7874
curator@museumofflight.org