Description
Distinguished Flying Medal, GVI, 1939-45 Star, Atlantic Star, clasp Air Crew Europe, Defence and War Medal, Flight Sergeant Leslie Wood, 166 Squadron RAFVR. A rare combination of awards.
D.F.M. officially engraved: “1534184 F/Sgt L. Wood. R.A.F.”
Award announced in the London Gazette 21st January 1944
The recommendation was made on 17th November 1943 after 23 Operational Sorties, with 146 Flying Hours as an Air Bomber:
Flight Sergeant Wood has successfully completed 23 sorties against all types of targets including 2 to Berlin. On every occasion, he has guided his aircraft through most intense enemy opposition to drop his bombs with the maximum degree of accuracy on the target. His skill as a Bomb Aimer and his courage and calmness in the face of all difficulties have contributed greatly to the success of his crew and well merit the award of the Distinguished Flying Medal.
Remarks by his Station Commander:
“Flight Sergeant Wood has proved himself to be an unusually fine Bomb Aimer who has repeatedly and with consummate skill guided his aircraft through the most concentrated defences in Germany to the target. He has a fine offensive spirit and has at all times shown himself to be fearless of the enemy’s defensive measures. I concur in recommending Flight Sergeant Wood for the award of the Distinguished Flying Medal.”
Following the war he remained with the RAF, and was granted a commission on 6th June 1946 with the general Duties Branch as a Navigator.
Appointed as Pilot Officer on 6th December 1946.
Does not appear in the RAF lists of 1948, so seems to have retired during by 1948.
An announcement in the Liverpool Echo, 21st January 1944:
“AWARDED THE DFM
Flight-Sergeant Leslie Wood is awarded the D.F.M. Born at Warrington in 1916, he now lives at Wigan, he was a Police Constable before enlisting in 1941 and is now an Observer.”
Liverpool Echo, 18th February 1944:
“WIGAN SERGEANT’S DFM
Flight Sergeant Observer Leslie Wood, aged 27, son of Mr and Mrs G. Wood, of Thicknesse Avenue, Beech Hill, Wigan, has been awarded the D.F.M. He has been on many operational flights.
He joined the RAFVR in September, 1941, and prior to enlistment was a member of the Liverpool City Police, which he joined in April 1939. His father served with the Royal Engineers in France during the 1914-18 War, and his sister, Miss Dorothy Wood, is in the Women’s Land Army.”
When it was given personally by the King at Buckingham Palace, Liverpool Echo 22nd November 1944:
“A WIGAN DFM
At a recent investiture at Buckingham Palace, Flight Sergt Observer Leslie Wood, aged 28, of Scott Avenue, Hindley, near Wigan, was decorated by the King with the D.F.M.
He served in the Liverpool City Police Force before joining up in 1939. Wood is the second son of Mr and Mrs George Wood, of 157 Thicknesse Avenue, Beech Hill, Wigan, and he has been on many operational flights.”
