Ernest Phillip Coburn, born in 1922, was the son of Mr. and Mrs. George H. Coburn. A native of Toronto, Canada, Coburn was employed as an inspector at the National Supply plant before his induction into the Army Air Force in November, 1942. He trained at Miami, Florida, and at Sioux Falls, South Dakota in radio operation. He was one of five out of more than 700 graduates who were sent out to the Long Beach Ferry Command and was operating out of that base at the time of his death.

Private Ernest Phillip Coburn was killed in a bomber crash in San Francisco bay early on the morning of June 9, 1943. He was preceded in death by his brother, Private George H. Coburn, who died on September 26, 1942.