Coombs, George Edward William
Personal Information
Rank | Sgt |
Forename(s) | George Edward William |
Surname | Coombs |
Gender | M |
Age | 21 |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 24-08-1943 |
Next of Kin | Son of George Peter and Charlotte Coombs, of West Croydon, Surrey. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Avro Lancaster III |
Serial Number | ED950 |
Markings | OF-X |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | United Kingdom |
Burial/Memorial Place | Runnymede Memorial |
Grave Reference | Panel 146. |
Epitaph |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 148 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | 1334427 |
Service | Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve |
Group | 8 |
Squadron | 97 (Straits Settlements) |
Trade | Air Gunner |
Country of Origin | United Kingdom |
Other Memorials
Location | Church of the Holy Spirit, RAF Coningsby, Coningsby, Lincolnshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Stained Glass Window |
Memorial Text | A stained glass window remembering 97 Sqn in the Church of the Holy Spirit, RAF Coningsby |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/767/16 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/767/15 |
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 23-08-1943 |
End Date | 24-08-1943 |
Takeoff Station | Bourn |
Day/Night Raid | Night (37% moon) |
Operation | Berlin. 727 aircraft, 56 losses (7.9%)- the greatest loss in a single raid so far in the war. Sequential marking was used to keep the main force on course. A Master Bomber approach was also used (W/C J E [Johnny] Fauquier). PFF were unable to locate the centre of Berlin using H2S and instead marked the southern suburbs. The main force arrived late and many cut a corner, making their arrival point incorrect. As might be expected for Berlin, the flak and fighter defences were formidable. Nevertheless, this was the most serious raid on Berlin so far in the war. Much of the government district was badly damaged and 20 ships were also sunk. 854 people were killed, many of whom had failed to take refuge in air raid shelters. |
Reason for Loss | Crashed near Döberitz, Germany |