Pilot Officer Victor Ernest Woolnough DFM
Date of Birth 1919
Place of Birth
Air Force Branch RAF
Rank P/O (W Op/Air Gnr)
Service Number 48586
Awards DFM
Date of Death 31/05/1942 02:05
Squadron 14 OTU
Aircraft type Handley Page Hampden P2116 GL-L2
Location of Memorial Diepenveen General Cemetery, Holland
Next of kin
Victor Woolnough had joined the RAF before the outbreak of hostilities in February 1939. Whilst serving with 144 Squadron as a Wireless Op/Air Gnr, Sgt Woolnough was awarded the Distinguished Flying Medal, The citaion read as follows;
As Wireless Operator/Air Gunner, Sergeant Woolnough's work has been of a very high standard. At times, Sergeant Woolnough has been called upon to work his set under the most severe icing and electrical conditions and on many occasions it has been due to his skill that the safe navigation of his aircraft has been accomplished. This NCO carried out a daylight attack on Brest as Wireless Operator/Air Gunner during July, 1941. The operation had to be undertaken in the face of large fighter and AA opposition. Although the aircraft was repeatedly hit by AA and the formation almost continuously engaged by fighter aircraft, this NCO continued to operate his guns with skill and determination.
Promoted to the rank of Pilot Officer during the spring of 1942, Victor was now serving with 14 OTU. On the 30th May 1942 ACM 'Bomber' Harris ordered the first Thousand Bomber Raid, in order to achieve 1,000 bombers, aircraft had to be drawn from the OTU's, crewed by experienced instructors. Along with Flt Lt T E P Ramsey, Plt Off W H Gordon and Sgt F H Falk, Victor made up the crew of Handley Page Hampden I P2116 (GL-L2).
Briefed to attack Cologne the aircraft took off from RAF Cottesmore, Rutland at 22:57, three hours later the aircraft was attacked by a nightfighter flown by Oberleutnant Manfred Meurer (III/NJG1). The aircraft and three of the crew crashed in flames near Diepenveen, 4 Km North-North West of Deventer. Flt Lt T E P Ramsey was the only survivor, he was to spend the rest of the war as a pow, held at Stalag Luft III Sagan (Now Zagan, Poland).
Place of Birth
Air Force Branch RAF
Rank P/O (W Op/Air Gnr)
Service Number 48586
Awards DFM
Date of Death 31/05/1942 02:05
Squadron 14 OTU
Aircraft type Handley Page Hampden P2116 GL-L2
Location of Memorial Diepenveen General Cemetery, Holland
Next of kin
Victor Woolnough had joined the RAF before the outbreak of hostilities in February 1939. Whilst serving with 144 Squadron as a Wireless Op/Air Gnr, Sgt Woolnough was awarded the Distinguished Flying Medal, The citaion read as follows;
As Wireless Operator/Air Gunner, Sergeant Woolnough's work has been of a very high standard. At times, Sergeant Woolnough has been called upon to work his set under the most severe icing and electrical conditions and on many occasions it has been due to his skill that the safe navigation of his aircraft has been accomplished. This NCO carried out a daylight attack on Brest as Wireless Operator/Air Gunner during July, 1941. The operation had to be undertaken in the face of large fighter and AA opposition. Although the aircraft was repeatedly hit by AA and the formation almost continuously engaged by fighter aircraft, this NCO continued to operate his guns with skill and determination.
Promoted to the rank of Pilot Officer during the spring of 1942, Victor was now serving with 14 OTU. On the 30th May 1942 ACM 'Bomber' Harris ordered the first Thousand Bomber Raid, in order to achieve 1,000 bombers, aircraft had to be drawn from the OTU's, crewed by experienced instructors. Along with Flt Lt T E P Ramsey, Plt Off W H Gordon and Sgt F H Falk, Victor made up the crew of Handley Page Hampden I P2116 (GL-L2).
Briefed to attack Cologne the aircraft took off from RAF Cottesmore, Rutland at 22:57, three hours later the aircraft was attacked by a nightfighter flown by Oberleutnant Manfred Meurer (III/NJG1). The aircraft and three of the crew crashed in flames near Diepenveen, 4 Km North-North West of Deventer. Flt Lt T E P Ramsey was the only survivor, he was to spend the rest of the war as a pow, held at Stalag Luft III Sagan (Now Zagan, Poland).
Sources: CWGC Website, Bomber Command Losses Vol 3 1943 W R Chorley, Tavenders DFM Register, Footprints In The Sands Of Time - Clutton-Brock