9Feb1924 -1Nov1943
Edison Days
Louis graduated with the Class of January 1942. He participated in football and track while at Edison. He was also one of several Coulombe’s playing on the French team in the annual “All Nations” basketball tournament held in the Twin Cities.
Military Service
Branch: United States Marine Corps Reserve
Rank: 2nd Lieutenant
Louis entered the Marine Corps on 22Jun1942. It is unknown where he attended basic training.
By the end of 1942 he was stationed at the Naval Reserve Aviation Base in Minneapolis, MN.
Shaughnessy, William Roussell and Louis Leitschuh.
Photo Courtesy of Jim Bredemus – Nephew of Louis Coulombe
In early 1943 he attended flight training at Naval Air Station Corpus Christi in Corpus Christi, Texas. 0n 7Aug1943 he graduated from flight training and was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant. He was assigned to active duty that same day.
He was then assigned to Cherry Point Naval Air Station in North Carolina.
On 1Nov1943 Louis was the pilot of a plane of unknown type that exploded on the runway while preparing for takeoff. All 6 crewmembers were killed.
On 6Nov1943 Louis’ remains were escorted back to Minneapolis by his brother Richard, who was a Navy Seaman at the time.
Louis is buried at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Minneapolis, MN.
Edison Heroes 