Award BEM Cpl. T.C. Woodhead, RAFVR rescue November 1944

brithm · Jun 28, 2022

Award British Empire Medal Cpl. Thomas Charles Woodhead (1241052), Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve

One afternoon in November, 1944, an aircraft, whilst attempting to make a forced landing on an airfield, crashed and burst into flames. Corporal Woodhead who was working in the vicinity ran to the scene of the accident in company with other airmen. By the time they arrived one wing was burning fiercely and the fire was spreading to the cockpit and fuselage. Disregarding the flames and the ammunition which had started to explode, Corporal Woodhead and his helpers jumped on to the port wing and the cockpit perspex canopy and tried to break into the cockpit but they were unable to release the emergency roof exit or to get at the crew.

They could see that the pilot was bent over the control column and that the navigator was on the floor. By this time a fire engine had arrived and commenced to play foam jets on to the cockpit, but the heat had become so intense that all were forced to retire. A few moments later the navigator's head and shoulders appeared through a hole which had been made in the side of the fuselage. Despite the intense heat and danger from exploding tanks, Corporal Woodhead immediately dashed into the flames and dragged the injured man to safety. Corporal Woodhead then attempted to return and search for the pilot but was driven back by the heat which was by then too great to allow of any further rescue attempt to be made. Corporal Woodhead had shown complete disregard of his personal safety and his action in finally rescuing the navigator from the blazing wreckage was one requiring great courage.
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Award BEM Cpl. T.C. Woodhead, RAFVR rescue November 1944

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Award BEM Cpl. T.C. Woodhead, RAFVR rescue November 1944

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