COOMBE, Herbert Keith
| Service Number: | 433197 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 27 February 1943, Sydney, NSW |
| Last Rank: | Flight Sergeant |
| Last Unit: | No. 186 Squadron (RAF) |
| Born: | Broken Hill, NSW, 17 March 1924 |
| Home Town: | Broken Hill, Broken Hill Municipality, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Not yet discovered |
| Died: | Aircraft Shot Down on night bombing raid, North West Europe, 20 November 1944, aged 20 years |
| Cemetery: |
Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Germany Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Kleve, Germany |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, International Bomber Command Centre Memorial |
World War 2 Service
| 27 Feb 1943: | Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Aircraftman 2 (WW2), 433197, Aircrew Training Units, Sydney, NSW | |
|---|---|---|
| 28 Feb 1943: | Involvement Royal Australian Air Force, Aircraftman 2 (WW2), 433197, Aircrew Training Units, Empire Air Training Scheme | |
| 20 Nov 1944: | Involvement Royal Australian Air Force, Flight Sergeant, 433197, No. 186 Squadron (RAF), Air War NW Europe 1939-45, Aircraft lost with entire crew on raid to Homberg |
Help us honour Herbert Keith Coombe's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Steve Larkins
Herbert Keith COOMBE (1924-1944)
Herbert Coombe was the rear gunner of Lancaster HK622, which unusually in an RAF squadron, had four RAAF crew members. The aircraft, captained by Flight Lieutenant George WILLIAMSON, who had been recommended and subsequently awarded posthumously the DFC for an earlier mission with this crew) took off from RAF Tuddenham at 1237 hours on the 20th November1944, detailed to bomb Homberg, Germany.
Nothing was heard from the aircraft after take off and it failed to return to base. A Missing Research & Enquiry team reported later: “The aircraft was shot down by heavy anti-aircraft fire and exploded in the air at Baerl, 4 to 5 kms north east of Moers at 1515 hours on 20th November.” All the crew members were killed.
The crew on this raid was:
Flight Sergeant Wallace Patrick Burton (432748) RAAF (Mid Upper Gunner)
Flight Sergeant Herbert Keith Coombe (433197) RAAF (Rear Gunner)
Sergeant Arthur Ernest Piggin (976406) (RAFVR) (Flight Engineer)
Warrant Officer Arthur Edward Jarvis Stiles (423349) RAAF (Wireless Operator Air)
Flight Sergeant Kenneth Henry Turner (1458457) (RAFVR) (Navigator)
Flight Lieutenant George Edward Williamson DFC (426933) RAAF (Pilot)
Flying Officer Edward Winton (153353) (RAFVR) (Air Bomber)
Click images to start slideshow.