Coira, Louis E. (Louis Edward), 1916-

Louis Edward Coira (b. 1916, Bloomsburg, Penn.), U.S. Air Force officer, graduated from West Point in 1938, received his pilot wings the next year, and served as an instructor at Kelly Field, Texas, until April 1941. During World War II, he served in the Panama Canal Zone, commanded the 25th Bombardment Squadron in Ecuador, and also commanded the 6th Bombardment Squadron. In 1943 as deputy commander he went to India with the 40th Bombardment Group, the first B-29 unit overseas during the War. In the early 1950s, General Coira helped to establish the B-29 Combat Crew School; and later started a similar school for Strategic Air Command B-47 crews. Later he commanded the 5039th Air Base Wing and the 10th Air Division, and served as deputy chief of staff for operations of the Alaskan Air Command. Following duty at the Pentagon, he served as commander of the U.S. Air Force Security Service and as vice commander of the 5th Air Force in Japan. He retired in July 1971.