The Airmen's Stories - Sgt. S V Wood

Stanley Victor Wood, from Bury, Lancashire was born on 4th January 1920 and joined the RAF about June 1939 as an Aircrafthand. He later remustered as an Airman u/t WOp/AG and after completing his training he joined 248 Squadron in September 1940.

He was a member of the crew of Blenheim P6952 WR*X, detailed to carry out a reconnaissance off the south-west coast of Norway on 20th October 1940. After engaging and damaging a Do18 of 1./KuFlGr.406 the Blenheim was attacked by Me109's of JG77. One engine was knocked out and the cockpit filled with smoke.

The captain, P/O GM Baird, got down to low level, flying blind and skimming over the sea at a speed of 150 mph. The aircraft struck the sea 12 miles off Utsira and the fuselage filled with water.

Baird freed himself and opened the hatch. He then managed to float out the unconscious Sgt. DL Burton but was unable to rescue Sgt. R Copcutt, also unconscious, before the aircraft sank.

Wood freed himself and released the dinghy, the three survivors climbed aboard and were later picked up by He59 BV+HH of Seenotflugkdo.5 and landed at Stavanger. They spent the rest of the war as prisoners.

Wood was in Stalag Luft III at Sagan and Belaria. Freed in May 1945, he was released from the RAF later in the year as a Warrant Officer.