Capt. Cornelius Winfred Kobler USAF of Penokee KS was the second son of Herbert and Carrie Kobler.

He joined the Air Force early in 1942, became a ferry command pilot delivering bombers to Britain. He then became a multi-engine instructor and one of the early B-29 instructors before going to the Pacific as a B-29 command pilot.

On 14 May 1945, Capt Kobler and his Flight Engineer were taking their orientation flight on a combat mission to Nagoya with Crew 21. This crew and their 2 passengers had to ditch after P-21 took flak to the number 1 engine.