CAF Col. Bill Coombes Voted In To Post

Aero-News recently learned on Saturday, January 19, the Commemorative Air Force (CAF) General Staff voted CAF Col. Bill Coombes in as the next Chief of Staff for the organization.

Born in Los Angeles, CA, Coombes considers Texas his home -- having lived there since 1957. He is a graduate of Southern Methodist University and has spent his entire career working as an educator. He has served as a school administrator, coach, college professor and a classroom teacher. Currently Coombes is the college counselor at Trinity School in Midland, TX.

Coombes has been a member of the CAF since 1980, the same year he and his family acquired an SNJ and began to support CAF events in Texas and New Mexico. While a member of the CAF, Coombes has served in a variety of staff positions within the Desert Squadron and the High Sky Wing. He holds a senior flight rating, is formation qualified and is current in the SNJ, PT-19 and Fairchild F-24/J2K.

Coombes has also served as the CAF AIRSHO chairman for the past 11 years and is chairman of the Commemorative Center committee charged with overseeing the planning of the new multi-million-dollar addition to the CAF Headquarters campus. He is also a member of the long-range planning committee. Coombes also assisted in creating the American Airpower Heritage Museum’s “Remembrance of War” Seminar Series, which continues to bring noted historians, authors and aviators to Midland and the CAF.

"I look forward to working closely with Bill this year," said CAF CEO Steve Brown. "His experience and leadership on the General Staff will help us in our goal of strengthening the CAF for the next 50 years."

"It is an honor to serve in this capacity," Coombes added.

The Commemorative Air Force is a nonprofit organization dedicated to honoring the men and women who have served, or who are serving, America by maintaining a flying museum of classic military aircraft.

FMI: www.commemorativeairforce.org