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Later that summer Coombs was lent to Mr. S. E. J. Cox by Ordnance Engineering Corporation to be alternate pilot to Roland Rohlfs in the Gordon Bennett Race at Etampes, France, on September 28th. Cox had a special Curtiss race plane for the event called the "Wildcat", a small monoplane powered by a Curtiss C-12, 400 (h.p.) engine. Coombs went to France for this event, but they failed to bring the trophy back to America due to insufficient testing of the airplane prior to the event. 

Cox had a second special Curtiss race plane, the "Cactus Kitten", and Coombs won second place in the 1920 Pulitzer event at the National Air Races at Omaha, Nebraska, on November 3rd flying this plane. 

He remained at Ordnance Engineering through 1920 and into 1921 when he began flight testing of the Remington-Burnelli Airliner. From 1921 through 1927 Coombs was President and General Manager of United Auto Interests, Inc. From 1928 through 1931 he was Operations Manager for International and Canadian Airways, Inc., and from 1931 to 1935 was Operations Manager for International Airways, Inc.

In 1935 Coombs became Senior Airport Engineer for the Works Projects Administration and was a consultant in a New York State program in the design and construction of airports. He remained I this position until he passed away in Polyclinic Hospital on February 26, 1944, at age 55. He was survived by his wife, a son and a brother. Coombs was a member of the Early Birds and had been awarded the Aero Club of America Medal of Merit of 1918. He held Transport Flying License No.1031, Canadian License No. 394, and F.A.I. Expert License No. 114.

Flying Pioneer, Early Bird Clarence B. Coombs devoted the major part of his active lifetime to aviation. Expert pilot, engineer and World War I aviator, he contributed much to the early development of American aviation history. 

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