LEST WE FORGET

Pilot Officer Ralph Leonard WOOD

Service No: 431843
Born: Rupanyup VIC, 14 March 1922
Enlisted in the RAAF: 19 August 1943
Unit: No. 31 Squadron, Morotai
Died: Air Operations: (No. 31 Squadron Beaufighter aircraft A8-151), Ambonia Bay, 4 April 1945, Aged 23 Years
Buried: Unrecovered
CWGC Additional Information: Son of George James Leonard and Mary Louisa Wood; husband of Esma Maud Wood, of Kensington, Victoria, Australia
Roll of Honour: Unknown
Remembered: Column 8, Ambon Memorial, Indonesia
Remembered: Panel 102, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT

On 4 April 1945, Beaufighters A8-79 and A8-151 were detailed to conduct an armed reconnaissance over Ambonia Island. A8-151 was shot down by anti-aircraft fire while conducting a strafing run. A8-79 returned safely to base.

The crew members of A8-151 were:

Flight Lieutenant Colin Bentley Arbon (407995) (Pilot)
Pilot Officer Ralph Leonard Wood (431843) (Navigator)

The crew members of A8-79 were:

Flying Officer Albert Henry Power (Navigator) Discharged from the RAAF: 15 November 1945
Flight Lieutenant Robin Lee Roberts (Pilot) Discharged from the RAAF: 17 September 1945

References:

Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour On-Line Records
Commonwealth War Graves Commission On-Line Records
Department of Veteran’s Affairs On-Line WWII Nominal Roll
National Archives of Australia On-Line Record A9845, 56

Bibliography:

Parnell, N.M. (Neville M.) Whispering Death: A history of the RAAF’s Beaufighter Squadrons, AH & AW Reed Terry Hills NSW, 1980
Wilson, S. (Stewart) Beaufort, Beaufighter and Mosquito in Australian Service, Aerospace Publications Weston Creek ACT 2611, 1990

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