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Archive Report: Allied Forces

Compiled from official National Archive and Service sources, contemporary press reports, personal logbooks, diaries and correspondence, reference books, other sources, and interviews.
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247 crest

Operation: Air to air firing practice

Date: 07 February 1942 (Saturday)

Unit: No. 247 Squadron (motto: 'Rise from the East')

Type: Hurricane Iic

Serial: BN220

Code: HP-?

Base: RAF Predannack

Location: At airfield

Pilot: Fl/Sgt. Norman Walter Ross Wood Aus/402178 RAAF Age 21. Killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

After taking off at 16:05 hrs the aircraft was seen to attempt a climbing roll - the pilot was seen to pull out of a dive at a low height and then roll onto its back at around 500 ft. He was seen to climb on his back. At around 1000 ft he flicked the aircraft into a spin and showed no signs of a recovery.

Weather at the time was clear with 12 miles visibility and could not be a reason the pilot becoming confused. After all the pre-flight inspection forms it was reported that the aircraft was fully serviceable and the reason for the accident was disregard to flying regulations. The Commanding Officer stopped all leave for squadron personnel for the remainder of the month to impress as to the seriousness of keeping to flying regulations.

A Court of Inquiry found that : 'The accident was an error of judgement by the Pilot in attempting to execute a roll at high speed and at such a height as to make recovery impossible'.

Burial details:

Funeral held on the 11th February 1943 at 11:00 hrs.

Fl/Sgt. Norman Walter Ross Wood. Landewednack Churchyard (St. Winwallow). S.W. side. Grave 118. Born on the 15th February 1920 at St. Peters New South Wales. Accountant prior to service. Enlisted on the 24th June 1940 at Sydney. Son of Eric Harold and Myra Edith Wood, of Coogee, New South Wales, Australia. 266 solo flying hours logged.

Researched and dedicated to the relatives of this pilot with thanks to National Archives Australia, NAA, other sources as quoted below:

KTY 10-03-2021

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Acknowledgements
Sources used by us in compiling Archive Reports include: Bill Chorley - 'Bomber Command Losses Vols. 1-9, plus ongoing revisions', Dr. Theo E.W. Boiten and Mr. Roderick J. Mackenzie - 'Nightfighter War Diaries Vols. 1 and 2', Martin Middlebrook and Chris Everitt - 'Bomber Command War Diaries', Commonwealth War Graves Commission, Tom Kracker - Kracker Luftwaffe Archives, Michel Beckers, Major Fred Paradie (RCAF) and MWO François Dutil (RCAF) - Paradie Archive (on this site), Jean Schadskaje, Major Jack O'Connor USAF (Retd.), Robert Gretzyngier, Wojtek Matusiak, Waldemar Wójcik and Józef Zieliński - 'Ku Czci Połeglyçh Lotnikow 1939-1945', Archiwum - Polish Air Force Archive (on this site), Anna Krzystek, Tadeusz Krzystek - 'Polskie Siły Powietrzne w Wielkiej Brytanii', Franek Grabowski, Norman L.R. Franks 'Fighter Command Losses', Stan D. Bishop, John A. Hey MBE, Gerrie Franken and Maco Cillessen - Losses of the US 8th and 9th Air Forces, Vols 1-6, Dr. Theo E.W. Boiton - Nachtjagd Combat Archives, Vols 1-13. Aircrew Remembered Databases and our own archives. We are grateful for the support and encouragement of CWGC, UK Imperial War Museum, Australian War Memorial, Australian National Archives, New Zealand National Archives, UK National Archives and Fold3 and countless dedicated friends and researchers across the world.
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Last Modified: 10 March 2021, 16:25

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