Charles Ira Coombs

Born in Los Angeles on June 27, 1914, Charles Ira Coombs wrote widely for younger readers and became known for clear, energetic nonfiction. Records of his work show a long list of books on aviation, space, transportation, energy, and adventure, including titles such as Rockets, Missiles, and Moons, Project Apollo: Mission to the Moon, B-70, Monarch of the Skies, and Ultralights.

He also wrote some science fiction and mystery for younger audiences, but his strongest niche was explaining modern machines and scientific progress in a lively way. Reference sources describe him as an American author whose output was largely nonfiction, with a special interest in flight and technology.

Coombs died on February 20, 1994, at age 79. Even from a quick look at his bibliography, what stands out is his gift for taking big, complicated subjects and presenting them in a form that invited curiosity rather than intimidation.