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Auction: 22133 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 990

Five: Sergeant (Air Gunner) C. O. Coombes, 149 (East India) Squadron, Royal Air Force, who flew 31 sorties as Rear-Gunner in just five months between December 1944 and April 1945 over Germany including one of the Dresden raids on 13 February 1945

1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; France and Germany Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, together with the recipient's Flying Log Book, good very fine (5)

Charles O. Coobmes also called 'Charlie or Charley' was born on 7 June 1925, the son of Walter and Eliza Coombes of 64 Castleland Street, Barry, Glamorgan. Enlisting with the Royal Air Force at the Air Crew Reception Centre, Poona on 13 December 1943. From there he was posted to the Initial Training Wing at Arkonam, starting there on 1 January 1944 and remaining there until moved to an Air Gunnery School at Yelahanka. Finally posted to No. 12 Operational Training Unit at Chipping Warden on 13 June 1944.

Joining No. 149 (East India) Squadron flying his first mission with them to Seigen on 15 December, this however was recalled and planned again for the next day. The raid was a success and the town centre was levelled. Coombes kept flying with them, joining a raid over Bonn Airfield on 24 December where his log book notes he engaged with a JU.88. More raids followed, often on German rail links although Coombes was present for the massive raid on Nuremburg on 2 January 1945. They did not always have things their own way with Coombes noting in his logbook after a raid over Wanne Eickel '48 flakholes cat a/c'

He later flew during the bombing of Dresden on 13 February 1945, the first of several raids on that city. Coombes continued to serve flying on a number of raids, replacing the Mid-Upper gunner in several but largely flying in his accustomed 'Tail End Charlie' post. Raids in late March around Wessel were launched to aid in General Montgomery's crossing of the Rhine. A fortnight after the Wessel raid Coombes found himself over Kiel where he again tangled with a JU. 88. His final raid was the Kiel U-Boat yards on 13 April 1945 with a note in his logbook simply stating 'done a wizard shoot-up of groupies office'.

Flying out as a passenger back to India with the final note in the logbook placing him in Bangalore; sold together with an air gunners wing and two R.A.F. cap badges as well as handwritten and typed research and a copied photograph.

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Sold for
£230

Starting price
£80