Coombe, H G (Henry Gordon)
Coombe, H G (Henry Gordon)
Warrant Officer Henry Gordon Coombe was the son of Henry Thomas Coombe and Eliza May Coombe, husband of Grace Coombe, of Wellington City, New Zealand. He had done his training in RCAF, 3 Wireless School, Winnipeg, Manitoba and RCAF, 8 Bombing and Gunnery School, Lethbridge, Alberta before leaving for the United Kingdom where he would end up with 59 Squadron.
During the 23rd of June at around 12 noon, Henry and his crew took off from Ballykelly airfield to participate in anti-submarine duties in their Liberator V heavy bomber[1] (FL977) over the Atlantic.
The bomber would patrol for several hours until it left the area at 01.57 to return home to Ballykelly airfield only to find low cloud and mist in the area. After 4 am the plane was heard circling the base and on the 3rd rotation at 4:16 the noise of the plane crashing into the Binevenagh Mountain and its explosion was heard at the airfield by ground crew, visibility was horrible due to the weather conditions.
Three hours later a rescue team got to the burning plane. There were no survivors. Onboard along with George Gerring was Flying Officer Ivor Bramwell Jenkins (Pilot),[2] Warrant Officer Francis George Logan (Second Pilot),[3] Flight Sergeant John Fraser Leonard (Navigator),[4] Warrant Officer Reginald Richard James Revell (Navigator),[5] Sergeant William Harvey Wilson (Flight Engineer),[6] Sergeant Harry Gwynne Lewis (Mechanic),[7] Warrant Officer Wilfred Clark Wallace RCAF (Air Gunner)[8] and Pilot Officer George William Gerring RCAF (Air Gunner).[9]
To this day a cross stands at the location.
Henry Gordon Coombe was laid to rest on the 28th of June 1944, he had a full military funeral.
Date of Death: 24/06/1944 (Aged 32)
Service: Warrant Officer, 59 Squadron, Royal New Zealand Air Force
Service Number: 421266
Burial Location: Plot W. Grave 5.
[1] The Liberator V was an American designed heavy bomber which first flew in 1939 and was introduced to military service during 1941. The Liberator had the long range required for anti-submarine missions.
[2] Flying Officer Ivor Bramwell Jenkins (RAF), Service Number 169575, aged 24, was the son of Mr. and Mrs. W. J. Jenkins, of Blaengarw. He was laid to rest in Pontycymmer (Gelliron) Cemetery, Row G. Grave 23, Glamorganshire, Wales.
[3] Warrant Officer Francis George Logan (RCAF), Service Number R/101611, aged 27, was the husband of J.MN. Logan of 15 Babington Row, Park Estate, Leicester, and son of Violet and George Edward Logan. He was laid to rest in Leicester (Saffron Hill) Cemetery, Section C. Grave 313, England.
[4] Flight Sergeant John Fraser Leonard (RAF), Service Number 1551749, aged 22 was the son of William and Margaret Guthrie Leonard, of Inverkeithing. He was laid to rest in Torryburn Cemetery, Section H. Grave 48, Scotland.
[5] Warrant Officer Reginald Richard James Revell (RAF), Service Number 564007, aged 30 was the son of Samuel James Revell and Margaret Elizabeth Revell; husband of Marjorie Moody Revell, of East Park, Hull. He was laid to rest in Hull Western Cemetery, Compt. 119. Grave 11715, England.
[6] Sergeant William Harvey Wilson (RAF), Service Number 1069103, aged 32 was the son of George and Isabella Wilson, of Lochgelly; husband of Davina Wilson, of Lochgelly. He was laid to rest in Ballingry Cemetery, Section J. Grave 634, Scotland.
[7] Sergeant Harry Gwynne Lewis (RAF), Service Number 550742, aged 25 was the son of Frederick St. George Lewis and Sarah Louisa Lewis, of Goodwick. He was laid to rest in Llanwnda Cemetery, Grave 577, Wales.
[8] Also buried in Tamlaght Finlagan Church of Ireland Churchyard
[9] Also buried in Tamlaght Finlagan Church of Ireland Churchyard
