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Cenotaph Record
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Full Name
Donald Bruce Woodhead
Rank Last Held
Pilot Officer
Forename(s)
Donald Bruce
Surname
Woodhead
War
World War II, 1939-1945
Serial No.
NZ412301
Gender
Male
Date of Birth
2 July 1914
Place of Birth
Auckland, New Zealand
Occupation before Enlistment
Teacher
Enlistment Date
13 April 1941
Body on Embarkation
Royal New Zealand Air Force
Embarkation Unit
Initial Training Wing, Levin
Other Units
  • No. 4 Elementary Training Wing, Whenuapai;
  • No. 4 Elementary Training School, Ohakea (8.7.41)
  • No. 3 Service Flying Training School
  • South Cerney, Gloucestershire (12.1.42)
  • No. 21 Operational Training Unit
  • No. 40 Squadron RAF
  • No. 92 Group Instructors Flight (1.43)
  • No. 3 Flying Instructors School
  • No. 14 (Pilots) Advanced Flying Unit
Campaigns
Europe
Last Unit Served
Royal New Zealand Air Force, 16 Operational Training Unit
Place of Death
United Kingdom
Date of Death
19 August 1944
Age at Death
30
Year of Death
1944
Cause of Death
Killed in an aircraft accident
Cemetery Name
Botley Cemetery, North Hinksey Lane, Oxford, Oxfordshire, England
Grave Reference
Plot H/3. Grave 135.
Biographical Notes
  • Donald Woodhead was the son of Fred Baynes Woodhead and Elizabeth Jane Woodhead; husband of Betty Woodhead, of Remuera, Auckland.
  • Educated at Auckland Grammar School & Auckland University College. Qualified as a teacher ("C" Certificate). His sports were tennis, swimming, harrier running, tramping and climbing. Alpine Sports Club member.
  • Received his Pilots badge on 16.8.41. Promoted to sergeant on 27.9.41; Flight-Sergeant 1.8.42; Warrant Officer 1.8.43; Pilot Officer 29.7.44.
  • Left NZ for United Kingdom 25.10.41 and was posted to a refresher course at No. 3 Service Flying Training School. 24 February 1942, he proceeded to No. 21 Operational Training Unit where he formed up with his crew and converted to Wellington Bomber aircraft.
  • In July 1942, after a short course on long distance flying, he flew a Wellington from England to Shallufa, in the Western Desert, and reported for duties with the No. 40 Squadron RAF. With this Squadron, in the Middle East, he carried out a total of 36 operational sorties. Woodhead returned to UK in January 1943, and was posted to No. 92 Group Instructors Flight, Upper Heyford, Oxfordshire for an instructors course.
  • Following this he proceeded to No. 16 Operational Training Unit, at the same place, for duties as an instructor. He stayed with this unit on and off for the rest of his flying career except two short postings to No. 3 Flying Instructors School and No. 14 (Pilots) Advanced Flying Unit.
  • On 19 August 1944, Woodhead died of injuries. He was buried on 24 August 1944.
Description of Image
  • Portrait, Donald Bruce Woodhead
  • Portrait, from The Weekly News; 4 October 1944
  • Airforce Training Camp, Levin (Giddens Collection)
  • Gravestone, Botley Cemetery ( photo provided by Gabrielle Fortune 2006.)
Sources Used
  • Commonwealth War Graves Commission. URL: http://www.cwgc.org
  • Martyn, E. (1998-2008). For Your Tomorrow (Vols. 1-3). Christchurch: Volplane Press.
  • The Weekly News 1944
  • Unpublished papers: family papers