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Vernon Woodward

Name : Vernon Woodward Born : 22nd December 1916 Died : 26th May 2000 Service Number : 41092 Air Victories : 21.80 Awards : Distinguished Flying Cross

Born in Victoria, British Columbia, Woodward was unable to join the RCAF as he did not have a degree. He sailed for the UK in 1938 and resided in Gloucestershire farming. After attending the Civil Flying School in Perth, Scotland by August 1938 he was accepted on a short service commission in the RAF as an Acting Pilot Officer. In September 1938 he attended 6 FTS at Little Rissington. Woodward was posted to No. 33 Squadron RAF in Egypt in May 1939. He became a Flying Officer in September. Following Italy's entry into the war in June 1940, he was to gain early successes over Libya during June–July 1940. On 20 May 1939, he was posted to Egypt to join 33 Squadron, where he became a Flying Officer on 2 September. Following the Italian entry into the war in June 1940, he was to gain early success over the Libyan frontier area during June and July. In June 1940, 33 Squadron was based at Mersa Matruh, commanded by Squadron Leader D. V. Johnson and equipped with 21 Gladiators (mainly Mk.IIs) (on 11 June) and six Gloster Gauntlets Mk.IIs kept in reserve. It had 22 pilots in three flights: ‘A’ Flight included Flight Sergeant Leonard Cottingham, Sergeant Roy Leslie Green, Flying Officer Monk, Pilot Officer Eric Woods, Pilot Officer Brown, Pilot Officer Preston, Pilot Officer Perry St. Quintin and Flight Lieutenant G. E. Hawkins. ‘B’ Flight included Flying Officer Ernest Dean, Sergeant Shaw, Pilot Officer Woodward, Sergeant J. Craig, Flying Officer Couchman, Flying Officer John Littler and Pilot Officer Alfred Costello. ‘C’ Flight included Flight Lieutenant Bolingbrooke, Sergeant William Vale, Pilot Officier E. K. Leveille, Flight Sergeant Harry Goodchild, Flying Officier Henry Starrett and Pilot Officier Boulton. 14 June saw the first combats between opposing RAF and Regia Aeronautica fighters over North Africa. This was caused because the 11th Hussars (Prince Albert’s Own), joined by elements of 4th Armoured Brigade and 1st Battalion, King’s Royal Rifle Corps, assaulted Fort Capuzzo and Fort Maddalena (the two most important Italian frontier posts). The offensive was supported by attacks by Blenheims from 45, 55, 113 and 211 Squadrons. To protect both bombers and ground forces, 33 Squadron flew offensive sweeps as far as Bardia, meeting the Regia Aeronautica two times in the morning. At 07:35 Flying Officer Ernest Dean, Flying Officer R. A. Couchman, Pilot Officer Woodward and Pilot Officer A. R. Costello of the 33 Squadron took off from Sidi Barrani to provided in-direct escort to Blenheims from 45 Squadron. Two Blenheims were out to attack the nearby airstrip of Sidi Azeiz and three bombers were out for Fort Maddalena (that the Italians had already abandoned). One of the bombers (L8524) that attacked Sidi Azeiz was shot down by light AA fire, killing the crew (Flying Officer J. Davies, Sergeant G. Negus and Leading Aircraftman J. Copeland). The fighters of 33 Squadron returned at 09:25 and reported a successful low flying attack carried out on a Ghibli bomber on ground at Sidi Aziez. Advancing British troops later captured the disabled bomber. It seems that they had run into a Caproni Ca.309 Ghibli of the 2o Gruppo APC. That morning Tenente Adriano Visconti was based at Menastir M airstrip with a section of Ca.309s of the 2o Gruppo APC. The Section received the order to send a plane over Sidi Azeiz, which was attacked by many armoured cars, to report what was happening. Visconti took off immediately (crew: Sottotenente Osservatore Regio Esercito (an Army officer) Umberto Zolesi and 1o Aviere Montatore Luigi Moroso). Over Sidi Azeiz, reached in a few minutes, he was attacked by three Gloster Gladiators that hit one of the engines and wounded Moroso. Visconti didn’t loose control of the plane and force landed on Sidi Azeiz that was already surrounded by the enemy troops. There Visconti dismounted the front gun of the Caproni and with it defended the plane for more than one hour. In the meantime at Menastir, Sergente Maggiore Oreste Speranza, not seeing his commanding officer coming back, took off with the other Caproni of the section. He discovered Visconti on the ground, landed near him and saved him together with Moroso and Zolesi. Visconti’s aircraft was captured by the enemy. For this mission Visconti was awarded the Medaglia di bronzo al valor militare for bravery and left the APC to be assigned to 50o Assalto where he became a Breda pilot. The official citation of the award of Visconti stated that: “during a mission he was attacked by three enemy aircraft that damaged seriously his plane. With skilful manoeuvre he landed it and immediately organized the defence of his crew displaying courage and great determination.� Thirty-five minutes later, at 10:00, after refuelling the Gladiators, Dean (Gladiator L9046) and Woodward (Gladiator N5783) were off again, followed a few minutes later by Sergeant J. Craig (Gladiator N5768). Near Fort Capuzzo they intercepted two Caproni Ca.310Bs escorted by CR.32s. Dean shot down one of the CR.32s while Woodward and Craig jointly attacked one Caproni, setting one of the engines on fire. The Italian bomber crash-landed among British tanks near Fort Capuzzo. Woodward also attacked and claimed a second CR.32 (this claim is unconfirmed and no more Italian losses has been possible to verify) before retuning to base with a single bullet hole in one of the wing He gained more success during December, by which time the squadron had re-equipped with Hawker Hurricanes. Late in February 1941 the squadron moved to Greece. On 9 May he was decorated with the Distinguished Flying Cross. Late in April Woodward was ordered to Egypt to bring back a reinforcement Hurricane. He rejoined the Squadron, now in Crete, in May 1941 as a flight commander. The unit personnel retreated on foot across the island after the German invasion, and were evacuated on a Royal Navy destroyer later in the month. The squadron reformed in June and was back in action, supporting Operation Battleaxe, with a flight of experienced pilots from 33 Squadron led by Woodward attached to No. 274 Squadron. On 11 September his tour expired and he was sent to Rhodesia to become instructor at 20 SFTS, Cranbourne, Salisbury until June 1942, when he was posted to the Training Group HQ in Salisbury on Air Staff duties. On 2 July 1942 Woodward was promoted to Squadron Leader, and in January 1943 he returned to Egypt to command No. 213 Squadron until August 1943. A Bar to his DFC was awarded on 6 August 1943. After he went to AHQ, Levant, before attending the Middle East Staff College, Haifa in September. In December he was posted to HQ, Middle East on staff duties, and promoted to Wing Commander in June 1944. In February 1945 he took command of the Mediterranean Middle East Communications Squadron, flying various transport aircraft. In December 1946 he returned to the UK, going to the Visual Interservice Training and Research Establishment as Chief Ground Instructor. In 1947 he joined CFE as SASO, and in August commanded No. 19 Squadron until March 1950. He then was posted to HQ, Fighter Command, in September 1950. Various peace time posts followed, until following a difference of opinion with a superior, he was moved to command No. 69 (PR) Squadron on Canberras in 1958. He remained with this unit until October 1959, when he went to the Ministry of Aviation, Controller of Aircraft, as SAdO. He retired in January 1963 and settled in Australia, where he formed an air charter company. In August 1967 he returned to British Columbia in retirement as a member of the Corps of Commissionaires.

Known Service Details :
Squadron	Rank	Start of Service	End of Service	Known Dates	Aircraft	Airframes	Notes
No.33 Sqn RAF		20th May 1939	unknown		Gladiator	N5783

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Known Individual Aircraft :
Type	Serial	Codes	First Flew	Squadron History	Aircrew History	History Notes	Engine	Factory
Gladiator	N5783		-	details	details	details

Aircraft for : Vernon Woodward
A list of all aircraft associated with Vernon Woodward. A profile page including a list of all art prints for the aircraft is available by clicking the aircraft name.
Aircraft	Info
Gladiator Click the name above to see prints featuring Gladiator aircraft. Manufacturer : Gloster Production Began : 1935 Retired : 1945 Number Built : 746	Gladiator GLOSTER GLADIATOR: A continuation form the Gloster Gauntlet aircraft the Gloster Gladiator (SS37) becoming designated the F.7/30 was named Gladiator on the 1st July 1935. The first 70 Gladiators had Under wing machine guns (Vickers or Lewis) before the browning became standard The first aircraft arrived at Tangmere airfield on in February 1937 to no. 72 squadron. at the outbreak of world war two a total of 218 Gladiators had been received by the Royal air force with a total of 76 on active service. They served also in the Middle eats and in 1940 when Italy joined the war was nearly the only front line fighter in the middle east. Between 1939 and 1941. the Gloster Gladiator flew in many war zones. flying in France, Greece, Norway, Crete Egypt Malta and Aden. The Aircraft claimed nearly 250 air victories. It stayed in front line duties until 1942, then becoming fighter trainer, and other sundry roles. It continued in these roles until the end of world war two. The Naval equivalent the Sea Gladiator a short service in the Middle east and European waters. A Total of 746 aircraft were built of these 98 were Sea Gladiators.. Performance. speed: 250mph at 17,500 feet, 257 mph at 14,600 Range 430 miles. Armament: Two fixed .3-03 browning machine guns

Squadrons for : Vernon Woodward
A list of all squadrons known to have been served with by Vernon Woodward. A profile page is available by clicking the squadron name.
Squadron	Info
No.33 Sqn RAF Country : UK Founded : 12th January 1916 Loyalty Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of No.33 Sqn RAF	No.33 Sqn RAF Full profile not yet available.

Last edited : 16:34, December 31, 2016
Last editor : HMS

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