William Christopher Wood was born in 1919. He was the son of Alexander Joseph and Florence Wood, of Hanwell, Middlesex.

William joined the Royal Air Force and became an wireless operator/air gunner with 57 squadron, operating out of Feltwell.

On 12 October 1941, William and his crew participated in a mission to Nuremberg. His crew consisted of:

57 Squadron

Sgt Arthur William Jeffries
P/O Hilyard Lowell Myers RCAF
Sgt Percy Frederick Meadows Cooke RNZAF
Sgt William Christopher Wood
P/O L. Rickard RCAF
F/S William Harold Stanley Byers RCAF

Sgt Wood and his crew took off at 19.00 from Feltwell in Wellington R1757. Due to unknown circumstances the Wellington crashed into a marschy area near Blankenham, the Netherlands.

Only P/O Pickard managed to survive the crash. He became a PoW. The other crew members died and are buried at Emmeloord General Cemetery. Only P/O Myers is buried at Kuinre.

Sgt William Wood is buried at Emmeloord General Cemetery, Coll. grave 102-105.

Emmeloord, The Netherlands

See also:
F/S William Byers
P/O Hilyard Myers
Sgt Percy Cooke
Sgt Arthur Jeffries

All casualties of 57 Squadron

Sources:
Martyn, Erroll W., For Your Tomorrow, Christchurch, 1998
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Lostbombers.co.uk
Globe and Mail
RAF Squadron crest © Crown Copyright is reproduced with the permission of the Controller of Her Majesty’s Stationery Office

Directions to Emmeloord General Cemetery

Posted 10 May 2009

If you have any suggestions, comments or additional information, please contact me.

This website is dedicated to the men and women who died and/or are buried in The Netherlands during World War II.

 

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