Woods, L (Leslie)
Woods, L (Leslie)
Flight Sergeant Leslie Woods was the son of Henry and Mary Woods; husband of Elsie May Woods, father of Veronica May Woods, of Mount Tamborine, Queensland, Australia. He was born on the 31st of December 1913 and joined the RAAF on the 9th of November 1941 in Brisbane.
On the 28th of November 1943, Wellington[1] (DV664) took off on a bombing practice run.
The bomber made a successful bombing drop off the coast of Portballintrae, in North Antrim, Northern Ireland and then turned right. The Wellington bomber was approximately 200 feet off the ground. Once the turn was complete and the Wellington had straightened up, it dived directly into the rough seas. All onboard died.
There was no evidence as to what happened, and nothing could be proven fully, but it was later assumed that Wellington (DV664) was stalled by the pilot after the turn, possibly due to the high winds.
Onboard was Flight Officer and Pilot Phil Waite[2], Sergeant Geoffrey Albert Bennett[3], Flight Officer John Burton Knight[4], this airman, Flight Sergeant Leslie Woods, Flight Sergeant J W Marshall[5], and Sergeant Cyril Albert Stout[6].
The bodies of Sergeant Stout and Sergeant Woods were later recovered from the sea near Portballintrae. They were laid to rest with full military honours. The others were never recovered.
Date of Death: 28/11/1943 (Aged 29)
Service: Flight Sergeant, Royal Australian Air Force, 7 Operational Training Unit.
Service Number: 414859
Burial Location: Grave 26.
[1] The Vickers Wellington was a twin engines long range bomber, that made its maiden flight during June 1936, finally going into service October 1938.
[2] Flying Officer Phil Waite (service number 133073), aged 21, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, who was the son of Samuel and Annie Doris Waite, of Harrogate, Yorkshire. Remembered with honour on Runnymede Memorial.
[3] Sergeant Geoffrey Albert Bennett (service number 1323266), Royal Air Force Volunteer. Remembered with honour on Runnymede Memorial.
[4] Flight Officer John Burton Knight (service number 132409), aged 21, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, who was the son of Nelson and Madge Knight, of Hampton Wick, Middlesex. Remembered with honour on Runnymede Memorial.
[5] Flight Sergeant James Wilfred Marshall (service number 409167), aged 27, Royal Australian Air Force, who was the son of James Wright Marshall and Jane Marshall, of Highett, Victoria, Australia. Chemist. Remembered with honour on Runnymede Memorial.
[6] Sergeant Cyril Albert Stout (service number 1321728), aged 22, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, who was the son of Frederick William and Eleanor May Stout, husband of Jean Stout, of Leyton. Laid to rest in Chingford Mount Cemetery.
