Arthur B. Cozine May 10, 1920 - February 13, 2008 Art Cozine passed away on Feb. 13, 2008 while residing at Spring Creek Manor Assisted Living Community in Meridian, Idaho.
Art was born May 10, 1920 in Gloversville, N. Y., the youngest of three children born to Charles James Cozine and Grace Bellinger Cozine. He graduated from High School in 1938 and from the Gloversville Business School in 1940. He was employed in the accounting department of General Electric Company in Schenectady, N. Y. prior to enlisting in the Army on Dec. 29, 1941.
Art entered pilot training with the Army Air Corps in 1942. However the needs of the Army dictated that he be reassigned as a bombardier. He trained as a B-17F bombardier at several bases including Gowen Field prior to deploying oversees in Feb. 1943. Art served as the bombardier of aircraft number 42-29473, the "Yankee Doodle," and was assigned to the 347th Squadron of the 99th Bomb Group, based at Navarin, Algeria.
Between March and Oct. 1943, Art flew 50 combat missions attacking enemy positions in Sardinia, Sicily and Italy. On 35 of these missions, he was the lead bombardier and personally contributed to his Bomb Group earning a Presidential Unit Citation. The roughest of the 50 missions occurred on July 5, 1943. Art's Group was attacked by 125 German fighters as they approached the target which was the Gerbini Airdrome at Gerbini, Sicily.
The air battle lasted about an hour with three B-17's being shot down prior to Art's Group reaching the target. Art received an Air Medal for shooting down one ME-109 German fighter just after releasing his bombs on the target.
While training at Gowen Field in Oct. 1942, Art met Mary McNeil at a party at the home of Mary's mother on North 13th Street in Boise. According to Art, it was love at first sight. Art and Mary only had four dates before he shipped out - one at the Boise Club, one at the Gowen Field Officers Club, one at the Miramar Ballroom and a dinner with Mary's family. After Art redeployed from North Africa to the U.S.A. in Oct., 1943, Mary joined Art in New York State. They spent several days with Art's family and friends in upstate New York and even worked in a three-day trip to New York City. Mary then returned to Boise and Art reported for duty as a bombardier instructor.
In Dec., 1943, Art made his way back to Boise and gave Mary an engagement ring at a New Year's Eve party at the Gowen Field Officers Club. They were married on July 15, 1944 at the Merced California Army Air Field where Art was attending basic pilot training. Art went on to become qualified as a pilot in the P-40 and a combat qualified fighter pilot in the P-51 Mustang.
Art was honorably discharged from the Army Air Corps in Nov., 1945 at the rank of First Lieutenant. Art and Mary have lived and worked in Boise since 1945. Art was employed as Office Manager at Chaussee-Swan Sand and Gravel Company, Boise Cascade Concrete and Consolidated Concrete Company. In 1983 Art retired as Controller, Boise School District after 17 years of service.
He was a member of the Boise Host Lions Club, the 99th Bomb Group Historical Society, a life member of the Boise Elks Lodge 310, a life member of the Disabled American Veterans, and a life member of the Idaho Military Historical Society.
Art enjoyed retirement by volunteering in the Senior Health Insurance Benefits Advisor (SHIBA) program and by helping to screen several thousand school children in the Lions Sight and Hearing project. He also volunteered at the Gowen Field Military History Museum, and served as a member of the Supervisory Committee of the Capital Educators Federal Credit Union.
Art also served as a director of Senior Programs, Boise City/Ada County Foundation, Inc. Art was also well known as an avid Boise State Bronco football fan.
Memorials may be made to the Idaho Lions Sight and Hearing Foundation, Boise, or the Idaho Military Historical Society, Boise.
Art was born May 10, 1920 in Gloversville, N. Y., the youngest of three children born to Charles James Cozine and Grace Bellinger Cozine. He graduated from High School in 1938 and from the Gloversville Business School in 1940. He was employed in the accounting department of General Electric Company in Schenectady, N. Y. prior to enlisting in the Army on Dec. 29, 1941.
Art entered pilot training with the Army Air Corps in 1942. However the needs of the Army dictated that he be reassigned as a bombardier. He trained as a B-17F bombardier at several bases including Gowen Field prior to deploying oversees in Feb. 1943. Art served as the bombardier of aircraft number 42-29473, the "Yankee Doodle," and was assigned to the 347th Squadron of the 99th Bomb Group, based at Navarin, Algeria.
Between March and Oct. 1943, Art flew 50 combat missions attacking enemy positions in Sardinia, Sicily and Italy. On 35 of these missions, he was the lead bombardier and personally contributed to his Bomb Group earning a Presidential Unit Citation. The roughest of the 50 missions occurred on July 5, 1943. Art's Group was attacked by 125 German fighters as they approached the target which was the Gerbini Airdrome at Gerbini, Sicily.
The air battle lasted about an hour with three B-17's being shot down prior to Art's Group reaching the target. Art received an Air Medal for shooting down one ME-109 German fighter just after releasing his bombs on the target.
While training at Gowen Field in Oct. 1942, Art met Mary McNeil at a party at the home of Mary's mother on North 13th Street in Boise. According to Art, it was love at first sight. Art and Mary only had four dates before he shipped out - one at the Boise Club, one at the Gowen Field Officers Club, one at the Miramar Ballroom and a dinner with Mary's family. After Art redeployed from North Africa to the U.S.A. in Oct., 1943, Mary joined Art in New York State. They spent several days with Art's family and friends in upstate New York and even worked in a three-day trip to New York City. Mary then returned to Boise and Art reported for duty as a bombardier instructor.
In Dec., 1943, Art made his way back to Boise and gave Mary an engagement ring at a New Year's Eve party at the Gowen Field Officers Club. They were married on July 15, 1944 at the Merced California Army Air Field where Art was attending basic pilot training. Art went on to become qualified as a pilot in the P-40 and a combat qualified fighter pilot in the P-51 Mustang.
Art was honorably discharged from the Army Air Corps in Nov., 1945 at the rank of First Lieutenant. Art and Mary have lived and worked in Boise since 1945. Art was employed as Office Manager at Chaussee-Swan Sand and Gravel Company, Boise Cascade Concrete and Consolidated Concrete Company. In 1983 Art retired as Controller, Boise School District after 17 years of service.
He was a member of the Boise Host Lions Club, the 99th Bomb Group Historical Society, a life member of the Boise Elks Lodge 310, a life member of the Disabled American Veterans, and a life member of the Idaho Military Historical Society.
Art enjoyed retirement by volunteering in the Senior Health Insurance Benefits Advisor (SHIBA) program and by helping to screen several thousand school children in the Lions Sight and Hearing project. He also volunteered at the Gowen Field Military History Museum, and served as a member of the Supervisory Committee of the Capital Educators Federal Credit Union.
Art also served as a director of Senior Programs, Boise City/Ada County Foundation, Inc. Art was also well known as an avid Boise State Bronco football fan.
Memorials may be made to the Idaho Lions Sight and Hearing Foundation, Boise, or the Idaho Military Historical Society, Boise.
Arthur B. Cozine May 10, 1920 - February 13, 2008 Art Cozine passed away on Feb. 13, 2008 while residing at Spring Creek Manor Assisted Living Community in Meridian, Idaho.
Art was born May 10, 1920 in Gloversville, N. Y., the youngest of three children born to Charles James Cozine and Grace Bellinger Cozine. He graduated from High School in 1938 and from the Gloversville Business School in 1940. He was employed in the accounting department of General Electric Company in Schenectady, N. Y. prior to enlisting in the Army on Dec. 29, 1941.
Art entered pilot training with the Army Air Corps in 1942. However the needs of the Army dictated that he be reassigned as a bombardier. He trained as a B-17F bombardier at several bases including Gowen Field prior to deploying oversees in Feb. 1943. Art served as the bombardier of aircraft number 42-29473, the "Yankee Doodle," and was assigned to the 347th Squadron of the 99th Bomb Group, based at Navarin, Algeria.
Between March and Oct. 1943, Art flew 50 combat missions attacking enemy positions in Sardinia, Sicily and Italy. On 35 of these missions, he was the lead bombardier and personally contributed to his Bomb Group earning a Presidential Unit Citation. The roughest of the 50 missions occurred on July 5, 1943. Art's Group was attacked by 125 German fighters as they approached the target which was the Gerbini Airdrome at Gerbini, Sicily.
The air battle lasted about an hour with three B-17's being shot down prior to Art's Group reaching the target. Art received an Air Medal for shooting down one ME-109 German fighter just after releasing his bombs on the target.
While training at Gowen Field in Oct. 1942, Art met Mary McNeil at a party at the home of Mary's mother on North 13th Street in Boise. According to Art, it was love at first sight. Art and Mary only had four dates before he shipped out - one at the Boise Club, one at the Gowen Field Officers Club, one at the Miramar Ballroom and a dinner with Mary's family. After Art redeployed from North Africa to the U.S.A. in Oct., 1943, Mary joined Art in New York State. They spent several days with Art's family and friends in upstate New York and even worked in a three-day trip to New York City. Mary then returned to Boise and Art reported for duty as a bombardier instructor.
In Dec., 1943, Art made his way back to Boise and gave Mary an engagement ring at a New Year's Eve party at the Gowen Field Officers Club. They were married on July 15, 1944 at the Merced California Army Air Field where Art was attending basic pilot training. Art went on to become qualified as a pilot in the P-40 and a combat qualified fighter pilot in the P-51 Mustang.
Art was honorably discharged from the Army Air Corps in Nov., 1945 at the rank of First Lieutenant. Art and Mary have lived and worked in Boise since 1945. Art was employed as Office Manager at Chaussee-Swan Sand and Gravel Company, Boise Cascade Concrete and Consolidated Concrete Company. In 1983 Art retired as Controller, Boise School District after 17 years of service.
He was a member of the Boise Host Lions Club, the 99th Bomb Group Historical Society, a life member of the Boise Elks Lodge 310, a life member of the Disabled American Veterans, and a life member of the Idaho Military Historical Society.
Art enjoyed retirement by volunteering in the Senior Health Insurance Benefits Advisor (SHIBA) program and by helping to screen several thousand school children in the Lions Sight and Hearing project. He also volunteered at the Gowen Field Military History Museum, and served as a member of the Supervisory Committee of the Capital Educators Federal Credit Union.
Art also served as a director of Senior Programs, Boise City/Ada County Foundation, Inc. Art was also well known as an avid Boise State Bronco football fan.
Memorials may be made to the Idaho Lions Sight and Hearing Foundation, Boise, or the Idaho Military Historical Society, Boise.
Art was born May 10, 1920 in Gloversville, N. Y., the youngest of three children born to Charles James Cozine and Grace Bellinger Cozine. He graduated from High School in 1938 and from the Gloversville Business School in 1940. He was employed in the accounting department of General Electric Company in Schenectady, N. Y. prior to enlisting in the Army on Dec. 29, 1941.
Art entered pilot training with the Army Air Corps in 1942. However the needs of the Army dictated that he be reassigned as a bombardier. He trained as a B-17F bombardier at several bases including Gowen Field prior to deploying oversees in Feb. 1943. Art served as the bombardier of aircraft number 42-29473, the "Yankee Doodle," and was assigned to the 347th Squadron of the 99th Bomb Group, based at Navarin, Algeria.
Between March and Oct. 1943, Art flew 50 combat missions attacking enemy positions in Sardinia, Sicily and Italy. On 35 of these missions, he was the lead bombardier and personally contributed to his Bomb Group earning a Presidential Unit Citation. The roughest of the 50 missions occurred on July 5, 1943. Art's Group was attacked by 125 German fighters as they approached the target which was the Gerbini Airdrome at Gerbini, Sicily.
The air battle lasted about an hour with three B-17's being shot down prior to Art's Group reaching the target. Art received an Air Medal for shooting down one ME-109 German fighter just after releasing his bombs on the target.
While training at Gowen Field in Oct. 1942, Art met Mary McNeil at a party at the home of Mary's mother on North 13th Street in Boise. According to Art, it was love at first sight. Art and Mary only had four dates before he shipped out - one at the Boise Club, one at the Gowen Field Officers Club, one at the Miramar Ballroom and a dinner with Mary's family. After Art redeployed from North Africa to the U.S.A. in Oct., 1943, Mary joined Art in New York State. They spent several days with Art's family and friends in upstate New York and even worked in a three-day trip to New York City. Mary then returned to Boise and Art reported for duty as a bombardier instructor.
In Dec., 1943, Art made his way back to Boise and gave Mary an engagement ring at a New Year's Eve party at the Gowen Field Officers Club. They were married on July 15, 1944 at the Merced California Army Air Field where Art was attending basic pilot training. Art went on to become qualified as a pilot in the P-40 and a combat qualified fighter pilot in the P-51 Mustang.
Art was honorably discharged from the Army Air Corps in Nov., 1945 at the rank of First Lieutenant. Art and Mary have lived and worked in Boise since 1945. Art was employed as Office Manager at Chaussee-Swan Sand and Gravel Company, Boise Cascade Concrete and Consolidated Concrete Company. In 1983 Art retired as Controller, Boise School District after 17 years of service.
He was a member of the Boise Host Lions Club, the 99th Bomb Group Historical Society, a life member of the Boise Elks Lodge 310, a life member of the Disabled American Veterans, and a life member of the Idaho Military Historical Society.
Art enjoyed retirement by volunteering in the Senior Health Insurance Benefits Advisor (SHIBA) program and by helping to screen several thousand school children in the Lions Sight and Hearing project. He also volunteered at the Gowen Field Military History Museum, and served as a member of the Supervisory Committee of the Capital Educators Federal Credit Union.
Art also served as a director of Senior Programs, Boise City/Ada County Foundation, Inc. Art was also well known as an avid Boise State Bronco football fan.
Memorials may be made to the Idaho Lions Sight and Hearing Foundation, Boise, or the Idaho Military Historical Society, Boise.
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