URSEL ELBERT COULSON (1917-1959)
"Bert"
(Pilot)
(CNAC February 1944 - Left in September or October 1944)
(Captain - ???)
(Hump Flights = 99)

The following three photos are courtesy of Bert's daughter, Eve Coulson Bert and ??? Pete Goutiere and Bert Coulson Returning from a hunting trip near Dinjan (Photo Courtesy of Jim Dalby) From Gene Banning's list of 8/31/00: "... 2/44; survived bailing out of plane #97, both engines failed at night, 20 miles south of Shingbwyang, 8/31/44, other two crew did not survive bailing out. (wrote words for CNAC Cannonball song)." In the 1943-45 log book of Don McBride, Bert listed his address as: U.E. COULSON 904 N. GRAND AVE. PITTSBURG, KANS. December 7, 1945 Wichita, Kansas Abigale Blazer, Marjorie (Peggy) and Jules Watson, and Bert Coulson two men in back are L-Brigader General Marcus B. Bell and R-unknown From "Wings Over Asia", Volume IV June 2, 2002. Bert Coulson was my father. I have a number of essays he wrote about his experiences which I am in the process of editing and seeing if I can get them published. Two of them refer to the crash of plane #97 and his successful bailout. I also have the lyrics to the See-Nack Cannonball, as he titled it. His full name was Ursel Elbert Coulson. I do not know if there is a separate person named Bert Clouson or not, but in the photo, the guy identified as Bert Clouson certainly bears a striking resemblance to my dad. I have a few other photos of him from that time. I will also check to see if the fellow in the photo next to him is mentioned in any of his stories. My father died in January of 1959. My memories of him are very hazy. I would be thrilled to make contact with anyone who might have known him. Has anyone responded to your request for information about him? Looking forward to hearing from you and perhaps piecing some more of his story together after all this time. Eve Elberta Coulson E-mail eecoulson@gmail.com Note: The Cannonball publisher, Reg Farrar, died in 2004. Eve has volunteered to publish the Cannonball for all of us. Thank you Eve. March 10, 2010 Eve sent me the following photo taken on her parent's wedding day. This is (left to right) Duke Hedman, Bert Coulson, Joan Coulson, and Mary Ann Hedman March 10, 1949 And later... If you would like to share any information about Bert Coulson or would like to be added to the CNAC e-mail distribution list, please let the CNAC Web Editor, Tom Moore, know. Thanks!