LEST WE FORGET
Flight Sergeant Robert Donald WOODS
Service No: 404747
Born: Kingaroy QLD, 19 November 1921
Enlisted in the RAAF: 8 November 1940
Unit: No. 13 Squadron, Hughes NT
Died: Aircraft Accident (No.2 Squadron Hudson aircraft A16-186), near Hughes, 12 June 1943, Aged 21 Years
Buried: Adelaide River War Cemetery, NT
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Donald Charles and Sarah Elizabeth Woods; husband of Eleanor Dorothy Woods, of Toowoomba, Queensland
Roll of Honour: Brisbane QLD
Remembered: Panel 100, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
On 12 June 1943, Hudson A16-186 crashed while attempting a forced landing at Hughes and caught fire and exploded on impact, killing all seven RAAF members on board. The aircraft seemed to be approaching from the northern end of the airstrip to make a landing. When the aircraft was directly over the end of the strip it was approximately 500 feet high with flaps and wheels down. The port engine was not running and the airscrew was feathered. When the aircraft was halfway down the airstrip, the wheels were pulled up and the Pilot appeared to put more power on the starboard motor. The aircraft then turned to port and lost height rapidly. At this stage the aircraft disappeared from sight and a few seconds later there was a crash followed by a loud explosion.
On board A16-186 were:
Flight Sergeant Raymond James Flaherty (416180) (Wireless Air Gunner) No. 13 Squadron
Flying Officer Louis George Knauer (405180) (Hudson Captain) No. 2 Squadron
Flight Lieutenant John Frederick Mason AFM (252763) (Pilot A16-186) (Hudson Captain) No. 2 Squadron
Sergeant George Ridgway Rowland (409745) (Wireless Air Gunner) No 2 Squadron
Flying Officer Thomas Wallace Swann (411403) (Navigator Bomb Aimer) No. 2 Squadron
Flight Lieutenant John Richard Wood (280849) (Hudson Captain) No. 2 Squadron
Flight Sergeant Robert Donald Woods (404747) (Wireless Air Gunner) No. 13 Squadron
References:
Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour On-Line Records
Commonwealth War Graves Commission On-Line Records
Department of Veterans’ Affairs On-Line WWII Nominal Roll
National Archives of Australia On-Line Record A9845, 137
Bibliography:
Bennett, J. (John) Highest Traditions: The History of No. 2 Squadron RAAF, AGPS Canberra, 1995
Vincent, D. (David) The RAAF Hudson Story Book 1, D. Vincent Highbury SA 5089, 1989
Wilson, S. (Stewart) Anson, Hudson and Sunderland in Australian Service, Aerospace Publications Weston Creek ACT 2611, 1992