Teacher Coombes flew early ‘Tiffy’
WSpecial to The Herald hen the Typhoon arrived at RAF stations in 1941, it was the only RAF fighter capable of catching the formidable FolkeWulf Fw 190. But "buffeted by events and by its own short comings," the Typhoon was a disappointment.
It was not sufficiently maneuverable in high-level dog fights and the RAF planners were forced to look for another role. After D-Day as the Allies advanced into Europe, the Typhoon armed with cannons, rockets and bombs, was effective; with a top speed of 400 mph it could out run the Me 109 or the Fw 190 and became the scourge of German ground forces.
The Tiffy could endure considerable punishment and most importantly it got its pilot home. One of the pioneer pilots of this aircraft was W.F. Coombes, a resident of Townley Street in Penticton.
Born in Brownsburg, Que., in 1920, Coombes joined the RCAF in May 1940. Training in Canada, as a Sergeant Pilot he and his best friend Bob Duego were among the first graduates of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan.
Shipping overseas in March 1941 both "boys' were posted to a Hurricane Squadron No.59 RAF at Cosby-on-Eden.
In November 1942, Coombes was promoted to F/L and posted to 195 Squadron where he served until February 1944 when that squadron was disbanded; its Typhoons were used to equip new Canadian Squadrons.
That summer, Coombes was promoted Squadron Leader and posted to Milford. In October 1944, having logged the prerequisite number of hours, S/L Coombes returned to Canada on Rest and Recreation leave with the understanding he could be called back to Britain if needed.
Coombes graduated from McGill University in 1948 as a geologist after a couple years dodging deer-flies, and nosee-ums on the rocks and muskeg on Quebec Precambrian shield, where he thought Junker 88 and Fw were easier to take.
After creating and teaching an introductory geology course at Westmount Junior High School in Montreal, Walt became a teacher; first in Quebec in the 1950s, then to the West Coast in the early 1960s before joining the Pen High staff in 1967.
At Penticton Secondary his leadership skills were recognized by all. He could ski, play table tennis and golf with the best of the community, as well as being an impressive player on teachers hockey night. (Legend has it all the players scored charley-horses except Walt) Upon retirement in 1980, Coombes enjoyed an eightyear participation on the Penticton Library Board and decades of golf and gardening.
Often from my view from behind a wee book stand in the 200 Block, Main Street, on summer Saturdays, I'd observe a motorized Walt Coombes in the Market visiting, viewing and enjoying. How lucky PSS students were to have Walt Coombes.