Coombe House

Military site
Personnel of the 391st Bomb Group board a truck to take them to Coomb House, Shaftesbury for a few days rest. Image via Bob Mynn. media-396069.jpg FRE 7343 Personnel of the 391st Bomb Group board a truck to take them to Coombe House, Shaftesbury for a few days rest. Image via Bob Mynn. Roger Freeman Collection

Change spelling from 'Coomb' to 'Coombe'.
See: http://www.the467tharchive.org/coombehouse.html

Object Number - FRE 7343 - Personnel of the 391st Bomb Group board a truck to take them to Coombe House, Shaftesbury for a few days rest. Image via Bob Mynn.

Connections

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Detailed History

Coombe House was built in 1886 on a 50 acre site, a mile to the east of Shaftesbury in Dorsetshire. The house and estate became the luxurious, Coombe House Hotel early in the 1930s. It was ideally equipped and located to become a USAAF Rest Home.



For USAAF combat air crews in the UK, home leave was impossible. So the doctors responsible for their well-being believed the next best thing would be Rest Homes, using the tranquillity, comfort and freedom from military routine achievable at English country houses or hotels.



Aircrew could, at least once during their tour, come for a week away from the horrors of war. After which it was hoped they would return to their units, refreshed.



At the rest home they were provided with civilian clothes. Uniforms only appeared for the evening dinner. Air Service Command supplied an administrative commanding officer, an adjutant and enlisted helpers. A Medical Officer, rotated each week from operational units, provided any necessary emergency care or medical advice.



American Red Cross girls acted as hostesses, supervising the recreation and dining. The American Red Cross also employed and managed the civilian staff needed to run the house and maintain the grounds.



Coombe House joined the programme on 20th September 1943. It was set up to accommodate 50 officers and was allocated to the 2nd Bomb Division.



Soon after the war, Coombe House was sold and became St Mary's, an independent, Roman Catholic School for girls. Nowadays, with many new buildings and facilities added, it houses 325 students, two thirds of whom are boarders.

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 453rd Bomb Group 733rd Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Co-Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 391st Bomb Group 575th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-693781
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Co-pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 448th Bomb Group 712th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-705193
  • Highest Rank: Captain
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Revisions

Date
ContributorLucy May
Changes
Sources

Associated photo to place record.

Date
ContributorMikeO
Changes
Sources

Report to the Surgeon, HQ Eighth Air Force dated 11 Dec 1944; 'Flak Houses Then and Now, Thomas, After the Battle.

Coombe House: Gallery (4 items)