 |
 |
|
|
|
|
Vernon Crompton Woodward from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
"Woody" Vernon Crompton Woodward DFC and Bar RAF (22 December 1916 - 26 May 2000) was a Canadian who flew for the RAF as a fighter pilot during WWII. With 18 and 4 shared destroyed, 2 unconfirmed destroyed, 3 probables, and 11 damaged, Woodward tied Henry Wallace McLeod as Canada's second highest scoring pilot of the war.
Born in Victoria, British Columbia, Woodward was unable to join the RCAF as he did not have a degree. He sailed for the UK in 1938 and resided in Gloucestershire farming. After attending the Civil Flying School in Perth, Scotland by August 1938 he was accepted on a short service commission in the RAF as an Acting Pilot Officer. In September 1938 he attended 6 FTS at Little Rissington.
Woodward was posted to No. 33 Squadron RAF in Egypt in May 1939. He became a Flying Officer in September. Following Italy's entry into the war in June 1940, he was to gain early successes over Libya during June-July 1940.
He gained more success during December, by which time the squadron had re-equipped with Hawker Hurricanes. Late in February 1941 the squadron moved to Greece. On 9 May he was decorated with the Distinguished Flying Cross.
Late in April Woodward was ordered to Egypt to bring back a reinforcement Hurricane. He rejoined the Squadron, now in Crete, in May 1941 as a flight commander. The unit personnel retreated on foot across the island after the German invasion, and were evacuated on a Royal Navy destroyer later in the month.
The squadron reformed in June and was back in action, supporting Operation Battleaxe, with a flight of experienced pilots from 33 Squadron led by Woodward attached to No. 274 Squadron.
On 11 September his tour expired and he was sent to Rhodesia to become instructor at 20 SFTS, Cranbourne, Salisbury until June 1942, when he was posted to the Training Group HQ in Salisbury on Air Staff duties.
On 2 July 1942 Woodward was promoted to Squadron Leader, and in January 1943 he returned to Egypt to command No. 213 Squadron until August 1943. A Bar to his DFC was awarded on 6 August 1943.
After he went to AHQ, Levant, before attending the Middle East Staff College, Haifa in September. In December he was posted to HQ, Middle East on staff duties, and promoted to Wing Commander in June 1944.
In February 1945 he took command of the Mediterranean Middle East Communications Squadron, flying various transport aircraft.
In December 1946 he returned to the UK, going to the Visual Interservice Training and Research Establishment as Chief Ground Instructor.
In 1947 he joined CFE as SASO, and in August commanded No. 19 Squadron until March 1950. He then was posted to HQ, Fighter Command, in September 1950. Various peace time posts followed, until following a difference of opinion with a superior (see more below), he was moved to command No. 69 (PR) Squadron on Canberras in 1958. He remained with this unit until October 1959, when he went to the Ministry of Aviation, Controller of Aircraft, as SAdO.
He retired in January 1963 and settled in Australia, where he formed an air charter company.
In August 1967 he returned to British Columbia in retirement as a member of the Corps of Commissionaires.
References: "Canadian Aces of WW2" by McCaffery, Dan. Air Aces: "The Lives and Times of Twelve Canadian Fighter Pilots". ISBN 1550283219.
Gerry Shipley's Notes: "I was dined in on the same night as Hammer West's replacement (Vic Woodward). I remember parts of the evening very well, especially when Sandy Sanderson became irritated that the new Wing Commander repeatedly beat him at leg-wrestling. Sandy showed his displeasure by picking Vic up and dropping him on to the anteroom floor from shoulder height.
At this point the Wg Cdr disappeared and there was general displeasure that the new boss should be a wimp; however, he returned about 30 minutes later, having been to sick quarters to get attention for his broken collar bone and complaining about the handicap of now having to drink left-handed. As a typical 20 year old know-all, I assumed that the Wingco Flying was clearly old, past it and definitely boring.
Not too long ago, I put his name into Google and was surprised to find that he had had a much more interesting history than I'd given him credit for; his achievements include being listed among the RAF BIPLANE aces of WW2. When he came to Jever I don't think he can have had much previous jet experience, I remember him leading us in a 24-ship formation one day and initially proposing to fly at 180 knots IAS "so as to ensure the rest of us had plenty of performance in hand". He was a bit taken aback when we suggested 300 would be a more comfortable airspeed, but was happy to oblige. In retrospect I know I underrated him at the time, anyone with 20 WW2 kills in Gladiators and Hurricanes was obviously an OK bloke and anyone whom Sid disapproved of was clearly "the right stuff".
|
|
|
|
|
