By Leslie Tang

April 28 began as just another day of flight training for Lt. j.g. Melissa Coombes, a naval flight student. By the end of the day, she would be credited with saving the helicopter and onboard crew from serious danger.

Coombes grew up in Los Altos and graduated from Homestead High School and the U.S. Naval Academy. As a student naval aviator at HT-8, she was awarded a Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal for her quick reactions that prevented serious mishap to the aircrew members and aircraft.

Coombes was sitting in the right-side passenger seat with a flight instructor when the helicopter went out of control. According to her citation, “her Bell TH-57 Sea Ranger helicopter entered a dynamic rollover situation and would not recover, despite control inputs by the flight instructor. With the aircraft on one skid and the main rotor blades nearly impacting the ground, Coombes dove from her station to the left side of the cabin, providing the critical counterweight necessary to reverse the rotation and cause the aircraft to fall back on its skids. In this case, Coombes likely saved this aircraft and flight crew.”

Melissa’s father, Graham Coombes, said he was “thankful that she kept her head and took the appropriate action to dodge the bullet.”

“For me the career path was an adjustment,” Mary Coombes said. “But suffice to say I consider it to be a great choice for Melissa. She has thrived in the environment.”

Described by her father as having a “strong-willed personality that enjoys meeting challenges,” and by her mother as “motivated, hard working and focused on her goal,” Coombes is sure to go far in the future.

On May 27, Coombes was promoted to lieutenant junior grade. She is currently training on a MH-60S aircraft in San Diego.

Coombes is a member of Los Altos American Legion Post 558.