Obituary of Colonel Daniel J. Coonan

Died on October 18, 2014, at the age of 97. Born January 6, 1917, in Jersey City NJ to Elizabeth and Daniel Coonan, Sr., Dan was raised in Warwick RI, a suburb of Providence. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Rhode Island. While attending college he and his brother, Bud, earned their civilian pilot's licenses. Upon graduation his brother joined the Navy and Dan joined the Army Air Corps (now the Air Force). His cadet training began in June 1941 at Chanute AFB IL as an engineering student, followed by AT-6 maintenance training in Jan 42 at Stockton CA. He finally entered primary flight training in the PT-22 in Nov 42 in King City CA, followed by basic flight training in the BT-13 in Jan 43. He won his pilot wings after AT-6 advanced flight training back at Stockton CA in May 43. Before heading off to war he convinced his sweetheart, Helen Connor of Auburn MA to marry him.After a Sep 43 wedding they headed west. Their first few homes as a married couple consisted of single rooms in farm houses in Roswell NM and Ardmore OK while Dan learned to fly the B-17 bombers that were to be used in the war effort. Over 5000 of these bomber crews did not make it back. Dan and his crew ferried their airplane from Ardmore OK to Parham UK arriving in Mar 44. They flew 31 successful missions over Germany, France, Belgium, and Czechoslovakia in their B-17 (Dan named her "Ain't Misbehavin"), for which he received the Distinguished Flying Cross for bravery in aerial combat. Anyone who has talked with Dan has quickly realized that participating in that great effort was the capstone of his life. After his combat tour he transitioned to the C-47 transport and flew support missions in the theater for the remainder of his tour in Europe. He returned to the States in Dec 44 and was assigned as a B-24 test pilot at the production factory in Willow Run MI. In 1948 Dan returned by ship to Germany with Helen and two children to fly C-54 transports in the Berlin Airlift. The airlifters provided food and supplies to Soviet-blocked West Berliners in a non-stop operation that had planes landing at Templehof airfield every 48 seconds over a period of a year. Returning finally to the States in Oct 51' with three children in tow, Dan was stationed at Hanscom AFB MA, near his homes in Billerica and Bedford MA. Here he kept his currency by flying the C-45 while assigned to an aircraft maintenance job. In Oct 56' it was time to go back to the cockpit. He transferred with four children now to Ellsworth AFB SD where he flew the B-36 and B-52 aircraft. After adding a fifth child to the family, he moved to Fairchild AFB WA in Aug 64 as the Base Commander, followed by an assignment as the 15th Air Force Civil Engineer at March AFB CA in 1965. It was from here that he was called again to war in Vietnam as the Commander of the 555 Civil Engineering Squadron (Red Horse) at Cam Ranh Bay. His final assignment of his distinguished 30-year career was at Vandenberg AFB CA as the Base Civil Engineer. Dan Coonan was decorated with the Legion of Merit and retired as a full Colonel in Mar 71'. After his retirement from the Air Force, Dan and Helen took a round-the-world, first-class trip for two, compliments of their children. They settled in Lompoc CA in a home they loved for many years. During that time he worked for Martin Marietta Corporation and performed engineering work in residential development in Vandenberg Village. They had many wonderful experiences and adventures throughout their 55 year marriage. All told they moved over 12 times while raising their five children. In retirement Dan's lifelong passion for travel took him to countless countries, including Russia for a cruise down the Volga River, China for a second river cruise down the Yangtze, and to several countries in a multi-national tour of South America. In his later years Dan left Lompoc and moved to Santa Barbara to be closer to family. He will be remembered as a courageous warrior who always had your back. Dan was one of the few remaining patriots who laid his life on the line repeatedly for his country. Our family will always be very proud of him. In return he was very proud of all of his children and always took an interest in their lives. Dan was preceded in death by his wife, Helen, his daughter, Betsy, and his son, Kevin, who died at birth. He is survived by his sons, Daniel (Frances) Coonan of San Antonio TX, Stephen Coonan of Las Vegas NV, son Tim (Michelle) Coonan of Escondido CA, and his daughter Patty (Jon) Colman of Santa Barbara CA. He was blessed with eight grandchildren and six great grandchildren. The family would love to thank all his friends at Maravilla for their comradeship, in particular Paula Long for her humor, love and support of Dan these last 5 years. In addition, we would also like to express our gratitude to all of the employees of Maravilla, the caregivers and nurses of Visiting Nurse and Hospice Care, for all of their support. Finally, the sons of the family would like to express publicly the admiration and gratitude we hold for our sister, Patty, and her husband, Jon, who gave selflessly of their time to care for Dad in his final years. It was truly a labor of love which we could never repay. A celebration of Dan's life will take place at Glen Annie Golf Course on November 6th at 2pm. In lieu of flowers Dan would have loved donations be made to the 390th Bomb Group Foundation in Tucson or Visiting Nurse and Hospice of Santa Barbara. Arrangements by McDermott-Crockett Mortuary.