Sght Alfred Wood, OBE ..... details needed

[Danny152]

Early 1941 a British bomber crashed landed on approach to base. All I can tell you that Sergeant Alfred Wood won the ORBs for his rescue efforts of the remaining crew members. I have included the extract from the London Gazette.

Can anyone tell me what the aircraft was / unit/ and remaining crew members etc? Still looking for a photo of Alfred if anyone can help?

Thanks in advance.

One night in November, 1940, an aircraft developed engine trouble and was compelled to come down on to the sea about 500 yards from the shore. Heavy seas were running at the time but dinghies were launched and finally manned with the exception of the captain of the aircraft and a member of the crew who were swept into the sea, the captain being lost. One dinghy drifted on to the rocks and, with great difficulty, the occupants, amongst whom was Sergeant Wood, bruised in the attempt. The second dinghy was now in considerable difficulty, having been swept over the rocks in a partially deflated condition. Sergeant Wood, observing the danger to the occupants, stripped off his clothing, donned a flotation jacket and swam for the shore with the intention of securing aid. The sea carried him on to a rock on which he obtained a hand hold, and he afterwards succeeded in climbing the cliffs. To obtain help he ran for about a mile partly through a railway tunnel, on his bare feet, and returned with a sergeant and two infantrymen, who improvised a rope of blankets and rescued a number of the crew of the aircraft. During the process, however, the rope broke and an R.A.F. officer fell back into the sea, but Sergeant Wood dived into the water and supported him until he was joined by another member of the rescue party, when they succeeded in bringing this officer ashore. Six hours later an officer succeeded in swimming out with a rope which enabled those left on the rocks to be rescued by means of a breeches buoy.
(London Gazette – 11 March 1941)

[Chris Goss]

Quick look at CC and BC losses reveal nothing

[RSwank]

A key phrase was left out in the description of the event in the 1st post. This is how the Manchester Guardian write-up of March 11, 1941, began.

"On a night in November, 1940, an aircraft, while engaged in an operation off the north-west coast of Ireland, developed engine trouble and was compelled to come down on to the sea about 500 yards from the shore."

[Chris Goss]

Found him. 740518 Sgt A W Wood. Whitley P5054 YG-C 502 Sqn. Ditched 0300hrs 18 Nov 40 off Downhill, Londonderry. S/Lt L E H Scholefield RN only one killed; rest of crew safe. Suggest you now look at F540 Danny!

[Danny152]

Thanks gents, this was a great help! I have a photo of a sister aircraft to this one. Sadly trying to find a photo of Alfred is no joy.

[JaganP]

Note he got the BEM.. not the OBE.