Harry R. Coomes was born in 1920 in Kentucky. He resided in Jefferson County, Kentucky prior to the war. He enlisted in the Army Air Corps on March 26, 1942 at Bowman Field, Louisville, Kentucky. He was noted, at the time of his enlistment, as being employed in laundering and also as Single, without dependents.

Harry served as a First Lieutenant and Co-Pilot on the B-17 "Raunchy Wolf" #42-3290, 551st Bomber Squadron, 385th Bomber Group, Heavy, U.S. Army Air Force during World War II. His plane, while on a return mission from Reims, France, was involved in a mid-air collision with B-17 #42-30264 "Dorsal Queen." They crashed at Tillingham Hall Farm, Bulphan, England. The entire crews of both B-17's were killed except Ssgt John J. Adams of the Dorsal Queen who was the only survivor.

1LT Coomes was originally interred in England and was later repatriated to the USA on May 24, 1949. He is buried in the same grave with SSGT Binford, TSGT McMillan, SSGT Shepherd, and 2LT Wilson at Fort McPherson National Cemetery, Maxwell, Lincoln County, Nebraska.

Source of information: www.findagrave.com