Alex/Jerry
I received a transcript of letters from the daughter of Robert Woodward today. Some interesting snippets and a great insight to Woodwards Sqn life.
I wonder if you can help with some details from the following bits and pieces :-
RAF Angle, South Wales
Why the job is not going so well is that the Squadron has had two crashes on the aerodrome in two days and they reflect on the Squadron Leader. Nothing had, but the aircraft have been damaged beyond repair! I don’t know what one does about it either. I feel a spot blue about leaving 137 Squadron just before their unfortunate encounter with the Hun (Channel Dash).
Any idea which two 263 Sqn Whirlwinds were written off between 12 and 16 February ?
This letter has no dated but written sometime between 28 February and 22 March 1942
Officer’s Mess, Fairwood Common, Swansea, Sunday
I’m told by my adjutant that Fighter Command have approved my promotion (to Sqn Ldr) and the delay is only in the putting it in the Orders.
Any idea who 263’s Adjutant was between these dates ?
Again no date but written from Angle
RAF Angle – Wednesday
I’d promised Geoff (Warnes) he could meet some Naval friends of his at Brough near Hull on Saturday but he will be in charge on Saturday so he asked if he could go yesterday so I allowed it. When he got there his tail would not come down so instead of trying to get back here – it would have been difficult – he landed it there and I haven’t heard what damage but it usually results in the tail being badly battered. The powers that be will ask what the devil he was doing up there which will be awkward, as operational might should not be used for that sort of thing!! And it’s our first prang for nearly two months. The Westland’s representative is here and he says it might not be so bad
Any idea which Whirlwind Warnes was flying and where near Hull it was damaged ?
No date except for May
I’m in a bit of a spot as one of my PO’s went to a party at Colerne. Her started making himself objectionable and a Group Captain ordered him to bed. He refused to go, but eventually was persuaded, but ½ hour later he turned up again and told the Wing Commanders exactly where they got off. He’s now up for a Court Martial unless something happens to save him. He’s American and can’t take his drink.
Any idea who this American can be, do you know if he did face a Court Martial?
Thanks in advance for your help.
By: Snapper - 17th March 2006 at 22:33
He should have had the BoB Clasp – he’s listed as one of the Few. Atlantic Clasp was for the same criteria as the star, ie:
Maximum number of WWII Medals
No one person could receive more than 5 stars and the two medals. Also no one person was awarded more than one clasp to any one campaign star.
This maximum entitlement can be expressed as
1939-45 Star
Atlantic Star (or Aircrew Europe or France and Germany)
Africa Star
Pacific Star (or Burma Star)
Italy Star
Defence Medal
War Medal
Some examples are
A RAF pilot who qualified first for the Atlantic Star and then the France & Germany star, would wear the Atlantic Star with France and Germany clasp.
A soldier who won the Pacific Star, and then gained the Burma Star, would wear the Pacific Star with Burma clasp.
Atlantic Star
This star was awarded to commemorate the Battle of the Atlantic within the period 3 September 1939 to 8 May 1945. The 1939-45 Star must have been earned by 6, or 2 for aircrew, months service before commencing qualifying service for the Atlantic Star.
The recipient was awarded this star if their service period was terminated by their death or disability due to service. Also the award of a gallantry medal or MID also produced the award of this medal, regardless of their service duration.
Royal Navy and Merchant Navy personnel, together with Army and RAF personnel serving with either Naval service, had to complete 6 months service in the Atlantic, home waters, North Russia Convoys or South Atlantic waters west of longitude 20 degrees East.
RAF members of air crews who had completed 2 months service in active operations within the specified area, providing that service for the 1939-45 Star had been completed.
The possible Atlantic, Aircrew Europe and France & Germany Star combinations are (remembering that you only received the first two earned of these 3 stars)
Aircrew Europe Star with France & Germany Clasp
Aircrew Europe Star with Atlantic Clasp
Atlantic Star with Aircrew Europe Clasp
Atlantic Star with France & Germany Clasp
France & Germany Star with Atlantic Clasp
Due to the different date ranges, you can’t have a Aircrew Europe clasp to a France and Germany Star.
Air Crew Europe Star
Air Crew Europe Star
This medal was awarded for operational flying from the UK over Europe, between the period 3 September 1939 to 5 June 1944 (outbreak of war until the start of the D-Day Normandy Invasion).
The recipient was awarded this star if their service period was terminated by their death or disability due to service. Also the award of a gallantry medal or MID also produced the award of this medal, regardless of their service duration.
RAF air crew had to complete 2 months service for this medal. However, this 2 months had to come after the service which entitled the person to the 1939-45 Star.
Army personnel qualified for this star if they served on air crew duties for 4 months, and that 2 months of this minimum 4 month period had been operational flying over Europe, with at least one operational sortie.
The possible Atlantic, Aircrew Europe and France & Germany Star combinations are (remembering that you only received the first two earned of these 3 stars)
Aircrew Europe Star with France & Germany Clasp
Aircrew Europe Star with Atlantic Clasp
Atlantic Star with Aircrew Europe Clasp
Atlantic Star with France & Germany Clasp
France & Germany Star with Atlantic Clasp
Due to the different date ranges, you can’t have a Aircrew Europe clasp to a France and Germany Star.
By: EN830 - 17th March 2006 at 22:07
Thanks Alex, no problem
One question someone maybe able to answer, the below is a photo of Woodwards medals, left to right DFC, 1939-45 Star, Air Crew Europe Star (With Atlantic Clasp) and War Medal.
I’m not up to speed on medals and their various attachments, the Atlantic Clasp has me puzzled also the lack of something similar to signify his involvement in the Battle of Britain with 600 Sqn.
What was the Atlantic clasp awarded for ? And how would I go about finding out about his eligibility for the BoB clasp ?
By: Alex Crawford - 17th March 2006 at 21:05
Hi,
Sorry I can’t add very much to this discussion but most of my 263 Squadron files are in a box somewhere in the attic. I haven’t done much research into the squadron for well over a year, except for their actions over Norway in 1940.
Alex
By: EN830 - 17th March 2006 at 19:36
Thanks Nial and Paul, your help is appreciated.
Woodward’s letters have been something of an eye opener and have revealed that things weren’t all sweetness and light between the Sqn CO and his Flight Commanders during Woodward’s tenure. There was certainly a clash of personalities, mixed in with a possible element of class difference, age difference and maybe north south divide.
By: NiallC - 17th March 2006 at 18:17
Paul
I suspect that you’re absolutely right.
The incident to P7108 I referred to definitely happened on the 13th. It was by all accounts a fairly spectacular prang so I think we can be reasonably confident that it’s one of the ones referred to by Woodward in his letter.
As for P7112 my recollection is that the incident was on the 12th and occurred while landing, but I don’t think it amounted to more than a bent wingtip. In which case I wonder why Woodward was so concerned about it. P7112 was later written off, on 1/4/42, also at Fairwood, also landing in high crosswinds. Philip Harvey was slightly injured.
So I’d say your first reference has a typo i.e 14/3/42 should read 1/4/42, but doesn’t relate to this incident. The second reference is, as you’ve noted, just plain wrong on everything other than the date.
ROS = Repaired on Site (Cat AC meaning that in this case it was repaired by a contractor rather than the squadron’s own resources).
NiallC
By: paulmcmillan - 17th March 2006 at 17:33
RE P7112
For this aircraft I have conflicting info..
a reference to “Blown over by gust on landing and wing hit ground; over- turned, Fairwood Common, 14.3.42”
and “Cat AC ROS 12.2.42 (probably damaged during operations during Channel Dash)”
But as it was aircraft was with 263 Sqn at the time (not 137 Sqn) the Channel Dash comment is probably wrong..
I know the top date is March and has same description as P7108 . But the letter says 2 accidents in 2 days…. So I wonder if the date is wrong and the blown over accident was 12.2.42 as the ates fit…
Also does anyone know what ROS means?
By: NiallC - 17th March 2006 at 09:24
My files are 1,000 miles away at the mo, but . .
Any idea which two 263 Sqn Whirlwinds were written off between 12 and 16 February ?
P7108 was badly damaged late on the 13th when it overturned after swinging off the runway at Fairwood Common on landing. Jim Coyne slightly injured. Although thought at the time to be a probable write-off, it was sent to Westland CRO, repaired and returned to service.
I can’t think of another one, other than that I seem to recall that P7112 had some sort of incident requiring contractors repair at around this time.
Any idea who 263’s Adjutant was between these dates ?
From Nov 41 and right through Woodward’s period of command the Sqn. adjutant was Flt. Lt. Eugene Owens (previously Camp Commandant at Predannanck).He appears in a few shots of squadron personnel – easily recognised as being quite a bit older and a little rounder than the pilots.
Any idea which Whirlwind Warnes was flying and where near Hull it was damaged ?
This incident rings no bells with me at the moment,but, as a non-op flight (very non-op in this case) it wouldn’t be recorded in detail in the ORB. Failure of tailwheels to extend (or collapse of the oleo after landing) was somewhat common with Whirlwinds. If just the rudder and tailwheel doors were damaged the incident is often not even reflected on the Form 78. If, as was common, the resultant impact fractured the sternframe casting and lower rudder hinge casting, requiring contractors party to repair, usually it is shown as Cat AC incident on the aircraft record card. I’ll check to see if there are any candidates when I’m back with my files.
Any idea who this American can be, do you know if he did face a Court Martial?
I’m reluctant to suggest a candidate in the absense of any other info, but the only one who seems to fit the bill is PO Norman Crabtree (US in RCAF). He remained with the squadron for some time after this period and retained his rank, so presumably did not face CM (if indeed it was him). Irrespective of what he said to the senior officers a 263 pilot who could not hold his drink must have been a severe embarrassment to the squadron. It’s something they appear to have trained quite conscientiously to prevent.
NiallC
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March 16, 2006 at 8:33 pm