B H Wood's Service & Release Book shows his first day of service in the RAFVR as 28th February 1939. Also his Service Record has four entries of this date, relating to his RAF date of enlistment, entry rank of AC2, mustering as untrained pilot and commencement of RAF service.
On the 1st March 1939, He began at his first unit; No.6 E. & R.F.T.S. (Flight Training School) at Sywell. Promoted to sergeant, he started his pilot training initially under F/O Turner on 5th March 1939.
While annual training at Sywell between 2nd and 18th June 1939 there was the first solo flight and qualification on the DH 82 Tiger Moth , as well as taking the RAF test . The test was part of a series leading to the award of the Flying Badge.
After more pilot training through the summer of 1939, he finished at his first unit and was transferred to the reserve, followed by relocation and transfer to the reserve (RAFVR) on 1st September 1939 at Northampton TC, a mobilisation station .
As noted in the addition to the W H Allen apprentice agreement , B H Wood's engineering training was interrupted and he was called up to the RAF on 2nd September 1939. Another relocation to 51GP Pool and 5 ITW (Initial Training Wing at Hastings) didn't seem to involve any flying until he was transferred to his second unit; No.16 E.F.T.S. on 28th May 1940 .
Much flying time followed in the next seven months, during which he was transferred to No.10 E.F.T.S. at Yatesbury and then No.5 S.F.T.S. at Sealand . This period seems to be the culmination of basic pilot training; completing instrument and flying training, given a proficiency rating and on 17th November 1940 awarded the Flying Badge .
The lads. B H Wood 3rd from left. On the seafront? That building?
That building. The Marine Court Hotel, St Leonards on Sea, Nr Hastings.
B H Wood was in No.5 ITW (Initial Training Wing) based at Hastings.
Info and image provided by Elvira Dennis & Geoff Milner - many thanks
On 18th November 1940 he started at No. 57 OTU at Hawarden . OTU was Operational Training Unit.
After flying a Miles Master on 1st and 2nd of December 1940, B H Wood's first solo in a Spitfire was followed by qualification for Spitfire Mk I on the same day, 6th Dec 1940.
This probably illustrated the urgent need to train and qualify pilots quickly, as well as his proficiency.
Apart from a flight on 7th December, the next logged flights are those of 15th December 1940 . The first flight of that day was in a Master, with no apparent incident. The second flight, in a Spitfire, shows a mark that he used to indicate either an Operational flight or a Combat (engagement or sighting) flight. I am not sure which. The mark can be seen in context in the log entries for April - July 1941 . Whatever happened to prompt him to indicate an incident on the 15th, was probably the cause of subsequent events. He did not fly again until 2nd March the following year, 1941
Ten days after the incident recorded on the 15th, B H Wood was admitted to Chester Isolation Hospital on Christmas day 25th Dec 1940 with a broken leg and fractured skull. Speaking of memory, there is some doubt as to the date of his injuries. There is reference to a "Prang!!" on 19th June 1942 elsewhere in the log, but he continued to fly immediately after that one.
When he actually suffered these injuries is not clear; he may have been in different hospital in the ten days prior to admission to Chester. His injuries were further complicated by infection, possibly diphtheria, and as a result his heart was permanently weakened. He was discharged from Chester on 25th Jan 1941 and was the subject of a Medical Board examination on 27th Jan 1941
He recovered sufficiently to return to No 57 OTU, spending March and early April 1941 based at Hawarden, brushing up on Spitfires.
Just beforeB H Wood left No 57 OTU, on 18th April 1941 , he was disciplined for being AWOL for a day. Maybe end of training party time! Maybe not. He was posted to 64 Squadron 'A' flight based at Hornchurch, around 20 April 1941, followed by Martlesham and Turnhouse. Transfer to 64 Squadron 'B' flight based at Drem (Scotland) came in mid May 1941.
64 Squadron markings
Much flying is recorded while he was with 64 Squadron during April and June 1941 , including regular operational sorties as detailed in the log. His brother and his wife both relate the tale of he and others flying in Miles Masters under the Menai Straights bridge. Quote, "'One went, the rest followed! "
On 27th June 1941 B H Wood started with the well known 603 'City of Edinburgh' Squadron which was temporarily based at Hornchurch although the log states Rochford as base at this time, moving to Hornchurch on 10th July 1941
603 Squadron markings
In the previous August, in 1940, 603 Squadron was sent to Hornchurch to take part in the Battle of Britain.
It suffered heavy losses but also scored many successes. By November 1940 it had destroyed 100 enemy aircraft.
Spitfires of 603 Squadron flying over Hornchurch.
Spitfire cockpit
1941 saw 603 moving onto the offensive, taking part in numerous fighter sweeps over Northern France. 603 Squadron moved on to Fairlop after Hornchurch, apparently because Hornchurch was severely waterlogged.
As a fighter pilot, this was an eventful, although brief, time for B H Wood with 603 Squadron. Operational patrols and offensive sweeps included one Me109 destroyed resulting in him crashing at Canterbury on 8th July 1941 . No mention of injury here and according to the log he was flying again on the same day.
Two days later on the 11th July 1941 he recorded a 'probable' Me109 followed by a forced landing at Manston.
Flying is frequent during August and September1941 but Operational flights decline with none recorded for the period.
This period includes an incident on 17th August 1941 with an entry in the log stating 'Local flying' and 'Aerobatics' in a Tiger Moth.
B H Wood flew no more Spitfires for 603 Squadron and was relocated to other flying duties, still with the 603, at Dengie Flats range three days after the aerobatics, on 20th August 1941 .
There follows a three month stint at Dengie Flats Range with only a couple of weeks flying, until he is 'severely reprimanded' on 26th November 1941 followed by a three day stay at SHQ Hornchurch , then relocation to No1 ADF (Aircraft Delivery Flight) based at Croydon on 3rd Dec 41.
So, in the space of a week, he went from one of the most prestigious Spitfire Squadron in the RAF, to delivery pilot. His health may have been a factor, but there may have been a discipline issue.
After a two month gap without an officially recorded flight, B H Wood begins his eighteen month stay at No 1 ADF, except for the month of October 1942 when he was stationed at 110 RSU Wilmslow.
As a delivery pilot, he not only got to fly all over the UK, but as a necessity, had to qualify solo for many different types of aeroplane . Now that must have been a fair alternative to piloting Spitfires with 603 Squadron, given that he got to fly those as well. Delivering planes did involve one or two moments though, with a couple of recorded accidents, one of which, involving a Lysander on 19th June 1942 , he deemed worthy enough to bestow the title of "Prang!". There is also a combat mark by the entry for 18th July 42 , with part of the flight being marked ???, unexplained. Maybe a sighting.
Sometime during Feb - May 1943 , he was in the habit of taking a jaunt in a Dominie with his 350cc Manx TT replica motorbike and a few friends to Ireland
B H Wood compiled a list of planes he flew and qualified on, from which I sense an immense pride. Thirty-five plane types before his 23rd birthday.
Much information is available on the internet about these plane types, here is an external link to a History of the Spitfire during WW2 , which includes a list of Surviving Spitfires as of August 2006. Also surviving Miles Aircraft including Magisters and Surviving Hurricanes . I have yet to match any to those in the log.
Great film of both Messerschmidt 109 (low quality) and Spitfire MkIX (better) is also available on this site, so no connection required, turn the volume up!
The last flying entry in the log book is for 15th May 1943 . Details from his Service Record confirm that he was 'fit grade III'.. Not fit enough to fly I presume.
B H Wood was Flight Sergeant as a pilot but was reduced in rank as he moved to ground based duties during the period June 1943 -until February 1946 maintaining transport vehicles and mobile cranes at various units . He was given a certificate of release from the RAF ; 'ceasing to fulfil RAF physical requirements'. Discharge from the RAF at the rank of Warrant Officer, still carrying out duties with the Royal Observer Corps, did not occur until 3rd October 1955.
He was demobbed in 1945 and returned to work at W H Allen in Bedford.