Squadron Leader Robert Wood 40587

**jossleclercq** · 24th October 2018, 16:50

Hello

I'm looking for détails about Squadron Leader Robert WOOD, service number 40587. He was killed in action on 9th August 1944 and is buried in Nesle-L'Hôpital cemetery in the Seine-Maritime département in France. I have the détails from CWGC and O.R.B.

He and his crew had been posted in to No. 180 Squadron on 26th June 1944, from No. 2 Group Support Unit, to replace the previous 'A' flight commander, S/L P.R.A. FORD, who had been posted missing in action on 20th June 1944.

I've tried many times, always unsuccessfully, to find more détails about his earlier career. Has any forumite come across his name during his own research ?

I've seen the thread on WW2 talk forum http://ww2talk.com/index.php?threads...rt-wood.42655/
but I've no way to contact Peter Harden.

Thanks in advance

Joss

**RecklessRat** · 25th October 2018, 17:56

Hi Joss,

I assume you have everything from the Gazette, but for completeness' sake I thought I would see what I could find and repeat it here in case it is useful in the future:

Air Ministry,
8^th March, 1938.
ROYAL AIR FORCE.
GENERAL DUTIES BRANCH.

The undermentioned are granted short service commissions as Acting Pilot Officers on probation with effect from 19^th Feb 1938:
Robert WOOD

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/...4490/page/1511
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/...4490/page/1512

The undermentioned Acting Pilot Officers on probation are confirmed in their appointments and graded as Pilot Officers.
29^th Nov 1938:
Robert WOOD

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/...4577/page/7694

The undermentioned Pilot Officers are promoted to the rank of Flying Officer:—
29^th May 1940.
Robert WOOD (40587).

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/...4898/page/4362

The undermentioned Flying Officers are promoted to the war substantive rank of Flight Lieutenant
29^th May 1941.
Robert WOOD (40587)

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/...5235/page/4442

RESERVE OF AIR FORCE OFFICERS.
GENERAL DUTIES BRANCH.

Flt. Lts. to be Sqn. Ldrs. (tempy.):
1^st July 1943.
R. WOOD (40587).

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/...upplement/3206

So, a pre-war Short Service commission into the RAF(GD). I'm not sure if there's any significance to his last promotion being in the RAFO(GD)? Perhaps wiser heads can explain.

He was baptised in Rochester Kent, on 28 Dec 1917. His father, Reginald, was a Captain 'H.M. Forces', so presumably in the Army.

https://www.freereg.org.uk/search_re...24c6&ucf=false

I'll see if I can dig up anything else later.

ETA:

Robert Wood’s parents are listed by the CWGC as Reginald Cecil and Dorothy Julia Wood.

https://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/c...gid=null&pid=1

There is an entry in the Gazette for Reginald Cecil Wood’s appointment as a Captain in the Inverness-shire Battery of the Royal Horse Artillery, a Territorial unit, w.e.f. 16 Nov 1914

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/...upplement/9672

And another confirming his temporary rank in the Royal Field Artillery, still in the Territorials, w.e.f. 01 Jun 1916

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/...upplement/9123

His service record appears to be available at TNA

http://discovery.nationalarchives.go...ails/r/C746535

There are marriage entries in the September quarter of 1913 for Dorothy J Hammond marrying surname Wood in the Hoo district (i.e. Rochester again) and for Reginald C Wood marrying surname Hammond.

https://www.freebmd.org.uk/cgi/infor...bmd_1537384567
https://www.freebmd.org.uk/cgi/infor...bmd_1537384567

There is the birth of a Robert Wood, MMS Hammond, registered in Marylebone in the December quarter of 1917, which is a possibility but would have to be confirmed by seeing the actual entry

https://www.freebmd.org.uk/cgi/infor...bmd_1537384567

I hope some of this may be useful to you.

**jossleclercq** · 25th October 2018, 21:13

Hello Reckless Rat,

Thanks for you input. I was lacking the LG entry for his commission, and I hadn't researched his father, so these détails help. I'll try again to find him in Flight archive. Pre-war, training units and postings were mentioned, but I didn't find him, even by trying other names in the same batch.

Joss