Earl G. Cobeil

Earl Cobeil was commissioned through the Air Force ROTC program on June 8, 1956, and went on active duty - January 20, 1957. Lieutenant Cobeil was awarded his navigator wings at Harlingen AFB, Texas, followed by Electronic Warfare Officer training at Keesler AFB, Mississippi. His first assignment was as an RB-47 Stratojet Electronic Warfare Officer with the 343rd Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron at Forbes AFB, Kansas, and then with the 38th Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron at Forbes. Captain Cobeil then served as a B-58 Hustler Defensive Systems Officer with the 64th Bomb Squadron of the 43rd Bomb Wing at Carswell AFB, Texas, and then at Little Rock AFB, Arkansas, followed by Air Command and Staff College at Maxwell AFB, Alabama. After completing F-105 Thunderchief Combat Crew Training, he served as an F-105 Wild Weasel Electronic Warfare Officer with the 333rd Tactical Fighter Squadron at Takhli Royal Thai AFB, Thailand, from October 1967 until he was forced to eject over North Vietnam and was taken as a Prisoner of War on November 5, 1967.