WOODS, John Francis
Even though John Woods didnt train at 1 WAGS Ballarat I have included him on this website due to him training as a WAG at Parkes NSW and his association with Frank Petch an esteemed past President of the Airforce Association Ballarat who completed a tour of 36 operations over Germany. Janet Bates Website Coordinator. John Francis Woods (1924- 1999) joined the RAAF 20 August 1942 – 18 years & 2 mths old. Trained at Somers Victoria, Parkes NSW [2 WAGS], Port Pirie South Australia [BAGS], Shepperton Victoria and Cowra NSW with a friend Frank Petch (Author of the Book – “We Dood It Too”) in which my dad is mentioned numerous times. My dad was a qualified and efficient Pilot but was allocated to the RAF 12th Squadron (a combined RAAF & RAF squadron) as a Wireless Operator due to his superior Morse code abilities (35wpm+) and he said you never forget it! He completed a tour of 33 operational missions over Germany where the average was 5 missions. I met all his crew in Bungaree (5 miles East of Ballarat) in 1971 where my father was the local cop there for over 25 years. He never drank – but the stories at the local were amazing. I have documented a number of the war stories they related. Quite funny especially those from his Irish Rear gunner. They were just a bunch of kids – my dad kept saying, “I was single at the time”. He only seldom spoke of theses time alone and only when prompted. He survived to raise 6 sons and a daughter – happily married for 50 years. Many thanks to John's son Paul Woods for the information and photos.
Even though John Woods didnt train at 1 WAGS Ballarat I have included him on this website due to him training as a WAG at Parkes NSW and his association with Frank Petch an esteemed past President of the Airforce Association Ballarat who completed a tour of 36 operations over Germany. Janet Bates Website Coordinator. John Francis Woods (1924- 1999) joined the RAAF 20 August 1942 – 18 years & 2 mths old. Trained at Somers Victoria, Parkes NSW [2 WAGS], Port Pirie South Australia [BAGS], Shepperton Victoria and Cowra NSW with a friend Frank Petch (Author of the Book – “We Dood It Too”) in which my dad is mentioned numerous times. My dad was a qualified and efficient Pilot but was allocated to the RAF 12th Squadron (a combined RAAF & RAF squadron) as a Wireless Operator due to his superior Morse code abilities (35wpm+) and he said you never forget it! He completed a tour of 33 operational missions over Germany where the average was 5 missions. I met all his crew in Bungaree (5 miles East of Ballarat) in 1971 where my father was the local cop there for over 25 years. He never drank – but the stories at the local were amazing. I have documented a number of the war stories they related. Quite funny especially those from his Irish Rear gunner. They were just a bunch of kids – my dad kept saying, “I was single at the time”. He only seldom spoke of theses time alone and only when prompted. He survived to raise 6 sons and a daughter – happily married for 50 years. Many thanks to John's son Paul Woods for the information and photos.
