Henry Gordon Coombe

Warrant Officer Henry Gordon Coombe died on 24th June 1944 when Liberator FL977 came down in bad weather on Binevenagh Mountain approaching RAF Ballykelly.

Warrant Officer

Henry Gordon Coombe

421266

Warrant Officer Henry Gordon Coombe of Wellington, New Zealand served in the Royal New Zealand Air Force attached to RAF 59 Squadron at RAF Ballykelly, Co. Londonderry.

Warrant Officer Henry Gordon Coombe (421266) served in the Royal New Zealand Air Force during the Second World War. He was the son of Henry Thomas Coombe and Eliza May Coombe, and husband of Grace Coombe of Wellington, New Zealand.

Henry died on 24th June 1944 aged 32 years old. He was a Wireless Operator attached to RAF 59 Squadron on board Consolidated Liberator FL977 H-59. The plane was carrying out a radio-controlled approach to RAF Ballykelly, Co. Londonderry.

The crew had received orders to return to the airfield and the last radio contact was at 0416hrs on 24th June 1944. In bad weather, the bomber crashed into the slopes of Binevenagh Mountain on its third approach. There were no survivors.

Remembering the crew of Liberator FL977

Last Name First Name(s) Rank Role Information
Jenkins Ivor Bramwell Flying Officer Pilot RAFVR 169575.
Logan Francis George Warrant Officer Class I 2nd Pilot RCAF R/101611.
Revell Reginald Richard James Warrant Officer Navigator RAF 564007.
Wilson William Harvey Sergeant Flight Engineer RAFVR 1069103.
Lewis Harry Gwynne Sergeant Wireless Operator / Mechanic RAF 550742.
Gerring George William Pilot Officer Wireless Operator / Air Gunner RCAF 90925.
Wallace Wilfred Clark Warrant Officer Class I Wireless Operator / Air Gunner RCAF R/134952.
Coombe Henry Gordon Warrant Officer Wireless Operator RNZAF 421266.

Henry Gordon Coombe’s grave is in Section W, Grave 5 of Finlagan Church of Ireland Churchyard, Tamlaght, Co. Fermanagh.