WOOD, Ian James Lock
| Service Number: | 414977 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 6 December 1941 |
| Last Rank: | Flight Lieutenant |
| Last Unit: | Not yet discovered |
| Born: | Ipswich, Queensland, Australia, 26 August 1914 |
| Home Town: | Not yet discovered |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Not yet discovered |
| Memorials: |
World War 2 Service
| 6 Dec 1941: | Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Flight Lieutenant, 414977 | |
|---|---|---|
| 6 Dec 1944: | Honoured Distinguished Flying Cross, Australia's Northern Periphery, For gallantry displayed in flying operations against the enemy in the Northern Command: Distinguished Flying Cross. Acting Flight Lieutenant Ian James Lock Wood, No. 414977. | |
| 25 Oct 1945: | Discharged Royal Australian Air Force, Flight Lieutenant, 414977 |
Air Sea Rescue
On November 10, 1944 took off piloted by Flt. Lt. Ian J. L. Wood and heard a "S.O.S." from B-25 pilot Warvel hit by anti-aircraft fire and ditched between Wewak and Muschu Island and rendezvous at 4,500' with eight DAP Beauforts from 7 Squadron that took off from Tadji Airfield to support the rescue. Arriving over Wewak, the eight Beauforts (A9-507, A9-356, A9-595, A9-599, A9-471, A9-364, A9-412, A9-461) dropped bombs on anti-aircraft positions on Cape Wom, Wewak Point and Cape Moem as part of diversionary attack while the rescue was attempted.
Around 4:30pm Catalina A24-92 spotted the life raft approximately a half mile southeast of Muschu Island and made several circuits before landing roughly 200m from them near Cape Wom. Against orders, the crew shut down both engines in order to take all six aboard. The rescue was photographed using crew member Leading Airman Philip S. Lindsay personal camera, a gift from his wife.
Before departing, one of the Americans used his pistol to sink the life raft. Safely aboard, the Catalina restarted both engines and departed the area. As darkness set in around 8:30pm they landed at Madang Airfield. Afterwards, the rescued crew were taken to a hospital at Madang and remained overnight. Afterwards, pilot Wood was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross (DFC) for this rescue.
Submitted 12 April 2024 by Ian FRITH