Wilson R Wood

Military
media-21796.jpeg UPL 21796 Col. Wilson R. Wood CO of the 323rd Bomb Group and 454th Bomb Squadron Wilson R Wood

323rd BG Historian Roy R Bozych

Object Number - UPL 21796 - Col. Wilson R. Wood CO of the 323rd Bomb Group and 454th Bomb Squadron

Wilson Roe Wood was born May 29, 1918 in Chico, TX to Maude Elizabeth and Charles Proctor Wood. He was raised in Wise County on acres of farm/ranch land where he often saw planes overhead from bases in Ft. Worth and Wichita Falls, TX. He grew up hunting, fishing, playing sports, and baling hay. He graduated from Chico High School in 1935 and played basketball at Wayland Baptist College in Plainview, TX for 2 years, then on to Baylor University in Waco, TX. His goal to become a flying cadet motivated him to enlist in the Army and wait for a slot. His enlistment took place on his Mom’s birthday, June 11, 1939 at Ft. Sam Houston in San Antonio. After boot camp he went to Angel Island, CA for training before being assigned to Scofield Barracks and Wheeler Field, HI. In December of 1939 he got his Christmas wish when the Army Air Corps tapped him for primary flying training at Allen Hancock School of Aeronautics in Santa Maria, CA. He completed basic at Randolph Field and advanced at Kelly Field, graduating and commissioning on August 31, 1940, class of 40E.



His flying assignments were as follows:

34th Sqdn of 17th BG at McChord Field in Tacoma, WA

Carolina Maneuvers in Summer 1941 – Daniel Field in Augusta, GA

Temporary flying duty with NWA in Spokane, WA

After Pearl Harbor 1/3 of 17th BG went to Pendleton, OR for submarine patrol of West Coast ( This is where his fiancé, Evelyn Malone, traveled from TX to marry and become Mrs. Wilson R. Wood on January 27, 1942. She stayed two weeks and was sent home due to squadron transfer for secret mission ) Transfer was to Lexington Field in Columbia, SC.

314th sqdn of 21st BG at Key Field in Meridian, MS. Converted from B 25s to B 26s.

Commander 454th sqdn of newly formed 323rd BG at McDill Field in Tampa, FL

Myrtle Beach, SC Bombing and Gunnery Range

Hunter Field in Savannah, GA

To western European war theater from April 1943 to February 1945. December 1943 323rd BG Commander. Pinned on Colonel January 20, 1944



After war:

Base Commander at SE Flying Training Command at Smyrna, TN 1945-46

TAC at Langley Field, VA 1946-48

Language School 6 months at Monterey, CA 1948

Air Liason Officer in Maracay, Venezuela 1949-51

8th AF HQ Carswell AFB, TX

509th Bomb Wing Commander Walker AFB in Roswell, NM 1951-55

8th AF IG Westover AFB in Springfield, MA 1955-56

Commander 98th BW Lincoln AFB in Lincoln, NE 1956-58

Imperial Defense College in London, England 1959

Vice Commander at High Wycombe RAF in Buckinghamshire, England 1960-61

Base Commander at Bolling AFB, Washington DC 1961 to 1963

Base Commander at Maxwell AFB in Montgomery, AL 1963-1967



Colonel Wood completed 28 years of service to his country and transitioned to civilian life in June 1967. He later became Executive Director of Health Services in Montgomery, AL for a decade.

He served his community well in leadership and participated in the Retired Officers Association and the Lions, Rotary, and Kiwanis Clubs. He was an avid golfer and played weekly until his untimely death of a heart attack on January 9, 1981.(62 years old) Colonel Wood was a command pilot with many military decorations including : Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal, Army Commendation Medal, French Croix de Guerre, Belgium Croix de Guerre, and Presidential Unit Citation.

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Units served with

Private First Class Barbara O'Brien of the Womens Army Corps, paints the nose of a B-26 Marauder (YU-Y. serial number 41-34982) nicknamed "Jolly Roger" of the 323rd Bomb Group. Image stamped on reverse: 'Associated Press.' [stamp], 'Passed for Publcation 4 Dec 1943.' [stamp] and '295589.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'W.A.C.S. on duty at a Bomber Station. Associated Press Photo shows:- Pfc: Barbara O'Brien painting the Jolly Roger on the nose of a Marauder with the crew looking on.'
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

Places

Revisions

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Added " / " in the "Role/job" field to aid readability.

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323rd BG Archives – Roy R. Bozych 323rd BG Historian

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323rd BG Archives – Roy R. Bozych 323rd BG Historian

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323rd BG Archives - Roy R Bozych 323rd BG Historian

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Daughter Beth Blase & 323rd BG Historian Roy Bozych

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Historian 323rd BG Roy R Bozych

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Col Wood's daughter - Beth Blase & 323rd BG Historian Roy Bozych

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323rd BG Archives - Roy Bozych 323rd BG Historian

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JMF

Wilson R Wood: Gallery (3 items)