Father: George Wood, Mother: Annie Elizabeth [Aston] (both born in England) Ed. High School, Junior College m. Daphne Mae [Franklin] (divorced 1944) prev. an usher in a theatre; worker in boiler factory; Instructor; Commercial Pilot for Arthur Carnahan Flying Service for 4 months at Bloomington Airport, IL
Address in 1941: 2646 South Euclid Ave, Berwyn, Illinois
Postings: 1FPP
5 accidents, all his fault: - 9 May 1941, he got lost in poor visiblity, in Hurricane Z3463 - 26 May 1941, flying too low in Tiger Moth T6112, he hit high tension cables - 21 Jun 1941, in attempting to control the swing in Hart K5028, his foot slipped off the brake pedal - 5 Aug 1941, he taxied his Spitfire W3697 down wind 'without due care' - 14 Sep 1941, he retracted the undercarriage of his Blenheim L8489 too soon, and landed with the starboard wheel retracted.
Fined twice: - 11 Jun 1941, for low flying; fined half his salary for two weeks - 23 Aug 1941, $50 for the Spitfire accident at Squire's Gate
"A very keen pilot who got away to a bad start. I think he is now on the way to becoming a valuable pilot" (Frankie Franics, 17 May) [Contract Terminated]
d. 10 Apr 1951 as co-pilot of C-54D Skymaster 42-72518 of the 10th (Rescue) Squadron, USAF, based at Elmendork AFB, Alaska which crashed at Ladd AFB, Alaska. 7 other crew members also died. The plane was "making practice glider snatches at low altitude" at the time of the accident.
Buried New Albany National Cemetery, New Albany, Floyd County, Indiana
Download ATA Pilot Personal Record (.zip file): |
ATA
Draft Card, dated 16 Oct 1940
Fairbanks Daily News Miner
