Lawrence Coombes (aviator)
| Lawrence Percival Coombes | |
|---|---|
| Born |
9 April 1899 Madras, India |
| Died | 2 June 1988 (aged 89) Melbourne, Australia |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Service/branch |
Royal Navy Royal Air Force |
| Years of service | 1917–1919 |
| Rank | Captain |
| Unit |
No. 12 Squadron RNAS No. 10 Squadron RNAS/No. 210 Squadron RAF |
| Battles/wars | World War I |
| Awards |
Distinguished Flying Cross Commander of the Order of the British Empire |
| Other work | Aeronautical engineer |
Lawrence Percival Coombes DFC, CBE (9 April 1899 – 3 June 1988) was a British aeronautical engineer who served as the first Chief Superintendent of the Australian Aeronautical Research Laboratories from 1938 until 1964. He had previously worked at the Royal Aircraft Establishment from 1924, and during World War I had served a pilot in the Royal Naval Air Service and Royal Air Force, becoming a flying ace credited with 15 aerial victories.
Coombes was born in Madras, India, and educated in London. From 1915 he studied engineering at the City and Guilds College in London, but in July 1917 he took leave of absence from his studies in order to enlist in the Royal Naval Air Service.
Coombes was assigned to HMS President on 22 July 1917 as a probationary flight officer, and attended the training schools at Air Stations Chingford and Cranwell, before being awarded his Royal Aero Club Aviator's Certificate at Air Station Fairlop on 20 September.
He was promoted to flight sub-lieutenant on 28 September, and posted to HMS Daedalus in November. Coombes was eventually sent to France, and was initially assigned to No. 12 Naval Squadron based at Air Station Dunkirk from 11 January 1918, but was reassigned to No. 10 Naval Squadron two weeks later. Flying the Sopwith Camel, Coombes gained his first aerial victory on 24 March, destroying an Albatros D.V over Menin-Roulers. By the time of his second victory on 9 April (another D.V destroyed north of La Bassée), the Royal Naval Air Service had been merged with the Army's Royal Flying Corps to form the Royal Air Force, and No. 10 Naval Squadron had been renamed No. 210 Squadron RAF. Coombes drove down three more enemy aircraft in May, and on 12 June he was appointed acting-captain while serving as a flight commander. In June and July he was credited with shooting down ten more aircraft, bringing his total number of victories to fifteen.
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