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In 1917, Eugene Seeley Coler, the son of William and Lillie (Seeley) Coler, was a medical student at McGill University in Montreal, Canada and a sergeant instructor in the Canadian Field Artillery. The following year, with the Royal Flying Corps, he was assigned to 11 Squadron as a Bristol Fighter pilot. On 13 August 1918, he and his observer shot down five Fokker D.VIIs in three minutes of fierce fighting over Péronne. Wounded in action by Jasta 2 on 16 September 1918, Coler always shot down two or more aircraft at a time. After the war, he married Helen Feur on 28 June 1919, became a physician and served with the United States Army Air Corps in Africa, Italy and England during World War II. Colonel Coler rejoined the United States Air Force in 1951 and was stationed in England with the Medical Corps, 7th Air Division when he died in 1953.
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| 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 13th 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.
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| Victories |
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Date |
Time |
Unit |
Aircraft |
Opponent |
Location |
| 1 |
09 May 1918 |
1220 |
11 |
Bristol F.2b (C792) 1 |
Pfalz D.III (OOC) |
Albert-Combles |
| 2 |
09 May 1918 |
1220 |
11 |
Bristol F.2b (C792) 1 |
Pfalz D.III (OOC) |
Albert-Combles |
| 3 |
09 May 1918 |
1220 |
11 |
Bristol F.2b (C792) 1 |
Pfalz D.III (OOC) |
Albert-Combles |
| 4 |
13 Aug 1918 |
0840 |
11 |
Bristol F.2b (D7912) 1 |
Fokker D.VII (DES) |
Péronne |
| 5 |
13 Aug 1918 |
0840 |
11 |
Bristol F.2b (D7912) 1 |
Fokker D.VII (OOC) |
Péronne |
| 6 |
13 Aug 1918 |
0841 |
11 |
Bristol F.2b (D7912) 1 |
Fokker D.VII (OOC) |
Péronne |
| 7 |
13 Aug 1918 |
0842 |
11 |
Bristol F.2b (D7912) 1 |
Fokker D.VII (DES) |
Péronne |
| 8 |
13 Aug 1918 |
0842 |
11 |
Bristol F.2b (D7912) 1 |
Fokker D.VII (DES) |
Péronne |
| 9 |
30 Aug 1918 |
1840 |
11 |
Bristol F.2b (E2215) 2 |
Fokker D.VII (DES) |
NW of Havrincourt |
| 10 |
30 Aug 1918 |
1840 |
11 |
Bristol F.2b (E2215) 2 |
Pfalz D.XII (DES) |
NW of Havrincourt |
| 11 |
06 Sep 1918 |
1030 |
11 |
Bristol F.2b (E2215) 3 |
Fokker D.VII (DES) |
W of Cambrai |
| 12 |
06 Sep 1918 |
1030 |
11 |
Bristol F.2b (E2215) 3 |
Fokker D.VII (DES) |
W of Cambrai |
| 13 |
15 Sep 1918 |
1200 |
11 |
Bristol F.2b (E2215) 4 |
Fokker D.VII (DES) |
W of Esnes |
| 14 |
15 Sep 1918 |
1200 |
11 |
Bristol F.2b (E2215) 4 |
Fokker D.VII (DES) |
E of Esnes |
| 15 |
16 Sep 1918 |
0830 |
11 |
Bristol F.2b (E2215) 4 |
Pfalz D.XII (DES) |
E of Cambrai |
| 16 |
16 Sep 1918 |
0830 |
11 |
Bristol F.2b (E2215) 4 |
Fokker D.VII (DES) |
E of Cambrai |
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| 1 |
Observer Lt Cyril William Gladman |
| 2 |
Observer Lt B E J D Tuke |
| 3 |
Observer Lt D P Conyngham |
| 4 |
Observer Lt E J Corbett |
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