My dad, George Woods, who was born in 1920 was a Tool Maker at the beginning of the war. He met my mother and, because she wouldn't (initially) marry him he signed up for the RAF and ended up being sent over to the USA, on one of the Queens, to begin training to fly. He soon gained his wings as a F/Sergeant and then went on to convert to multi engined planes. On arrival back in the UK he converted to flying Lancasters MKI and was also promoted to F.Lt. He joined No. 9 Squadron at Bardney. His Log Book (which my Brother has) shows numerous training flights, including Corkscrew dives.
His first operational sortie was in Lancaster MKI WS-C on June 26th 1944 as the Engineer. This was normal practice for new pilots to the squadron, as they took over the Engineer's seat of an experienced crew, before they flew on an operational sortie with their own crew. During the flight, presumably after the aircraft had sustained damage, the pilot ordered my father to bail out. His Log book shows him as Missing (in red ink).
My Dad didn't remember anything about bailing out as he passed out and came to on the ground. (I believe this was very common for aircrew to black out when bailing out from high altitudes.) When he revived, a local German Farmworker was threatening to run him through with a pitch fork but, luckily the Luftwaffe Police turned up and took him into custody. This probably saved his life. Eventually he was taken to Stalag Luft III, Sagan where he joined the other POWs. Soon after arriving he met another inmate who vouched for my father. The POWs were very aware that the Germans would attempt to infiltrate their ranks, especially as this was only a few months after the Great Escape and you needed to be vouched for by another brother Officer.
My dad soon put his skills for engineering into projects in the camp, like using tin cans to fabricate air ducts, etc. Although he never mentioned to me about the march from Sagan to NW Germany, he did tell me they persuaded the guards to protect them from the SS and other fanatics. I also understand a Fire Engine or two may have been liberated to be used in high jinks towards the end of the war.
He was brought back to England and nine months later my brother was born. The next aeroplane he flew was a Tigermoth at Hornchurch, where he became an instructor with the RAF VR. I understand he nearly looped the loop when he took off; well, there is a slight difference between the Tigermoth and a Lancaster.
My dad never proved it but he thought WS-C returned from that raid in June 1944. Long after he died, in 1970, I borrowed a book from a friend that detailed every Lancaster that had flown during the war. (His brother had been killed whilst flying on Lancs.) I was able to identify the airframe that was WS-C in the period about June 26, 1944 and discovered it was scrapped in 1947. So the aircraft did get back! I sometimes think maybe it was best that things turned out as they did as, let's face it, Bomber Command was the most dangerous place to be, mind you, his old crew did survive the war, flying in No. 9 Squadron.
