CREW MEMBER PROFILE

Surname:

WOODFINE

First Name/s:

Wilfred

Service No/s:

1430570 138081

Service:

RAFVR

Branch:

Navigator

Awards:

1939-1945 Star, Air Crew Europe Star (France & Germany clasp), Defence Medal, 1939-1945 War Medal

Return

SERVICE RECORDS

Date

Event

Aircraft Flown

21 Apr 1941

Enlisted at No.2 Recruiting Centre (RC), Cardington, Bedfordshire, as AC2 and mustering as Air Crew Hand (ACH) Pilot/Wireless Operator /Air Gunner

22 Apr 1941

Recommended for training as Pilot, Wireless Operator, or Air Gunner at No.9 Air Crew Selection Board. (ACSB) and transferred to the Reserve pending call-up.

11 Aug 1941

Called up and reported to No.1 Air Crew Reception Centre (ACRC), 19 Flight, St John's Wood, London

06 Sep 1941

No.3 Initial Training Wing (ITW), 4 Squadron, 'C' Flight, Torquay, Devon

07 Nov 1941

Remustered as Pilot Under Training (U/T) (2) and promoted to LAC on his completion of ITW.

08 Nov 1941

No.50 Group Pool (administrative posting)

09 Nov 1941

No.1 Elementary Flying Training School (EFTS), run by the De Haviland School of Flying, Hatfield, Hertfordshire

Tiger Moth

22 Dec 1941

Placed under the Empire Air Training Scheme (EATS), later known as the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan (BCATP), in Canada

23 Dec 1941

Embarked from the UK (port and vessel n/k). Precise date n/k

01 Jan 1942

No.1 Manning (M) Depot, Halifax, Nova Scotia

31 Mar 1942

No.2 Elementary Flying Training School (EFTS), 48 Course, Fort William (now known as Thunder Bay), Ontario

Tiger Moth

11 Apr 1942

No.12 Service Flying Training School (SFTS), Brandon, Manitoba

Crane

22 Jul 1942

Pilot training discontinued

25 Jul 1942

No.1 Composite Training School (curiously officially known as 'K.T.S.'), Trenton, Ontario, pending re-muster from pilot under training

11 Aug 1942

Re-mustered as Air Navigator (2)

12 Sep 1942

No.5 Air Observers School (AOS), Stevenson Field, Winnipeg, Manitoba

Anson

23 Oct 1942

Re-mustered as Air Navigator

29 Dec 1942

Discharged on appointment to a Commission

30 Dec 1942

Awarded Navigators Flying Badge and appointed to a Commission as Pilot Officer on probation (emergency) (London Gazette 30 Mar 43, p1471)

27 Jan 1943

Embarked Halifax, Nova Scotia (vessel n/k)

04 Feb 1943

Disembarked in the UK (port n/k - probably Gouroch, Greenock, Paisley, Scotland)

05 Feb 1943

No.7 Personnel Reception Centre (PRC), Harrogate, Yorkshire

27 Feb 1943

Attached to No.7 Elementary Flying Training School (EFTS), Desford, Leicestershire, probably for further navigation training. Returned to No.7 PRC, Harrogate on 25 March 1943

Tiger Moth

25 May 1943

No.10 (Observers) Advanced Flying Unit ((O) AFU), Dumfries, Dumfriesshire, Scotland

Anson

30 Jun 1943

Promoted to Flying Officer (war substantive) (London Gazette 06 Aug 43, p3538).

15 Jul 1943

No.30 Operational Training Unit (OTU), Hixon, Staffordshire; joining the C A B Johnson crew

Wellington

06 Oct 1943

No.1667 Heavy Conversion Unit (HCU), Faldingworth, Lincolnshire

Halifax & Lancaster

29 Dec 1943

No.576 Squadron, 'B' Flight, Elsham Wolds, Lincolnshire (precise date tbc)

Lancaster

07 Mar 1944

Joined the W A Scheerboom crew

15 Jul 1944

No.28 Operational Training Unit (OTU), Wymeswold, Leicestershire, as staff Navigator

Wellington

01 Nov 1944

No.1382 Transport Conversion Unit (TCU), Wymeswold, Leicestershire

Dakota

30 Dec 1944

Promoted to Flight Lieutenant (war substantive) (London Gazette 26 Jan 45, p594).

14 May 1945

Headquarters No.245 Wing, No.216 Ferry and Air Transport Group, Mediterranean Allied Air Forces (MAAF), Caserta, Italy, and attached to No.61 Staging Post at Udine

Dakota

25 Aug 1945

No.1382 Transport Conversion Unit (TCU), Wymeswold, Leicestershire (precise date tbc)

Dakota

31 Jan 1946

Attached to No.525 Squadron, Abingdon, Oxfordshire

Dakota

25 Feb 1946

Returned to No.1382 Transport Conversion Unit (TCU), Wymeswold, Leicestershire

Dakota

13 May 1946

Attached to 1510 Beam Approach Beacon System (BABS) Training Flight, Melbourne, Yorkshire, attending the BABS radar operator's course

Anson

19 May 1946

Returned to No.1382 Transport Conversion Unit (TCU), Wymeswold, Leicestershire

Dakota

10 Jul 1946

No.100 Personnel Disposal Centre (PDC), Uxbridge, Middlesex for Class 'A' release from the service

19 Sep 1946

Recorded as last day of Service.

01 Jul 1959

Commission relinquished, retaining the rank of Flight Lieutenant (London Gazette 28 Jul 59)

576 Squadron FLYING RECORDS

Date

Aircraft

Code

Flight Details

T/O

Land

Flt Time

Crew

05 Jan 1944

ED888

UL-V2

STETTIN

0000

0930

9h30

P1   Flt Lt C.A.B. Johnson
P2   
FE   Sgt G.B. Valentine
AB   Fg Off H. Gerus RCAF
NAV  Fg Off W. Woodfine
WOp  Sgt N.H. Morris
MUG  Sgt W.R. Owen
RG   Sgt J.P. Duns RCAF

NOTES:

Target: Built-up area. Load: 1x 4000lb ‘cookie’, 56x 30lb and 1122x 4lb incendiaries

14 Jan 1944

ME583

UL-F2

BRUNSWICK

1620

2030

4h10

P1   Flt Lt C.A.B. Johnson
P2   
FE   Sgt G.B. Valentine
AB   Fg Off H. Gerus RCAF
NAV  Fg Off W. Woodfine
WOp  Sgt N.H. Willett
MUG  Sgt W.R. Owen
RG   Sgt J.P. Duns RCAF

NOTES:

Target: Built-up area. Load: 1x 4000lb ‘cookie’, 56x 30lb and 1122x 4lb incendiaries. Experienced engine trouble and could not make Brunswick so bombed Texel Island as last resort.

30 Jan 1944

ND402

UL-R2

BERLIN

1655

2355

7h00

P1   Flt Lt C.A.B. Johnson
P2   
FE   Sgt G.B. Valentine
AB   Fg Off H. Gerus RCAF
NAV  Fg Off W. Woodfine
WOp  Plt Off H.T. Shewan
MUG  Sgt P.T. Lalor TBC
RG   Sgt J.P. Duns RCAF

NOTES:

Target: Built-up area. Load: 1x 4000lb ‘cookie’, 56x 30lb and 762x 4lb incendiaries.

12 Feb 1944

ND385

UL-W2

Training

nk

nk

2h40

P1   Flt Sgt W.A. Scheerboom
P2   
FE   Sgt H.R. Piper
AB   Flt Sgt R.J. Tinsley
NAV  Fg Off W. Woodfine
WOp  Sgt C.E. Harris
MUG  Sgt D. Hannah
RG   Sgt J.G. De la Mothe

NOTES:

Gee navigation exercise. Crew to be confirmed except Scheerboom and De La Mothe.

20 Feb 1944

LL830

UL-R2

Air Test

nk

nk

1h40

P1   Flt Sgt W.A. Scheerboom
P2   
FE   Sgt H.R. Piper
AB   Flt Sgt R.J. Tinsley
NAV  Fg Off W. Woodfine
WOp  Sgt C.E. Harris
MUG  Sgt D. Hannah
RG   Sgt J.G. De la Mothe

NOTES:

Air test. Crew to be confirmed except Scheerboom and De La Mothe.

20 Feb 1944

LL830

UL-R2

Exercise BULLSEYE

nk

nk

4h00

P1   Flt Sgt W.A. Scheerboom
P2   
FE   Sgt H.R. Piper
AB   Flt Sgt R.J. Tinsley
NAV  Fg Off W. Woodfine
WOp  Sgt C.E. Harris
MUG  Sgt D. Hannah
RG   Sgt J.G. De la Mothe

NOTES:

Night Exercise BULLSEYE. Crew to be confirmed except Scheerboom and De La Mothe.

21 Feb 1944

ED888

UL-V2

Training

nk

nk

5h00

P1   Flt Sgt W.A. Scheerboom
P2   
FE   Sgt H.R. Piper
AB   Flt Sgt R.J. Tinsley
NAV  Fg Off W. Woodfine
WOp  Sgt C.E. Harris
MUG  Sgt D. Hannah
RG   Sgt J.G. De la Mothe

NOTES:

Night cross-country navigation exercise with bombing at Missen Range. Crew to be confirmed except Scheerboom and De La Mothe.

02 Mar 1944

ED888

UL-V2

Training

nk

nk

5h15

P1   Flt Sgt W.A. Scheerboom
P2   
FE   Sgt H.R. Piper
AB   Flt Sgt R.J. Tinsley
NAV  Fg Off W. Woodfine
WOp  Sgt C.E. Harris
MUG  Sgt D. Hannah
RG   Sgt J.G. De la Mothe

NOTES:

Night cross-country navigation exercise with bombing. Crew to be confirmed except Scheerboom and De La Mothe.

03 Mar 1944

ED888

UL-V2

Exercise BULLSEYE

nk

nk

6h20

P1   Flt Sgt W.A. Scheerboom
P2   
FE   Sgt H.R. Piper
AB   Flt Sgt R.J. Tinsley
NAV  Fg Off W. Woodfine
WOp  Sgt C.E. Harris
MUG  Sgt D. Hannah
RG   Sgt J.G. De la Mothe

NOTES:

Night Exercise BULLSEYE. Crew to be confirmed except Scheerboom and De La Mothe.

05 Mar 1944

JA868

UL-Y2

Training

nk

nk

2h00

P1   Flt Sgt W.A. Scheerboom
P2   
FE   Sgt H.R. Piper
AB   Flt Sgt R.J. Tinsley
NAV  Fg Off W. Woodfine
WOp  Sgt C.E. Harris
MUG  Sgt D. Hannah
RG   Sgt J.G. De la Mothe

NOTES:

Practice bombing; simulated bombing attacks (SBA), 3-engine instrument flying. Crew to be confirmed except Scheerboom and De La Mothe.

07 Mar 1944

ND362

UL-Q2

Training

nk

nk

4h00

P1   Flt Sgt W.A. Scheerboom
P2   
FE   Sgt H.R. Piper
AB   Flt Sgt R.J. Tinsley
NAV  Fg Off W. Woodfine
WOp  Sgt C.E. Harris
MUG  Sgt D. Hannah
RG   Sgt J.G. De la Mothe

NOTES:

Cross-country navigation exercise. Crew to be confirmed except Scheerboom and De La Mothe.

09 Mar 1944

LL830

UL-R2

Training

nk

nk

2h05

P1   Flt Sgt W.A. Scheerboom
P2   
FE   Sgt H.R. Piper
AB   Flt Sgt R.J. Tinsley
NAV  Fg Off W. Woodfine
WOp  Sgt C.E. Harris
MUG  Sgt D. Hannah
RG   Sgt J.G. De la Mothe

NOTES:

Air-to-sea firing; simulated bombing attacks and instrument flying. Crew to be confirmed except Scheerboom and De La Mothe.

11 Mar 1944

LL800

UL-S2

Training

nk

nk

1h50

P1   Flt Sgt W.A. Scheerboom
P2   
FE   Sgt H.R. Piper
AB   Flt Sgt R.J. Tinsley
NAV  Fg Off W. Woodfine
WOp  Sgt C.E. Harris
MUG  Sgt D. Hannah
RG   Sgt J.G. De la Mothe

NOTES:

Air-to-air firing, intermediate landing at Binbrook, and local flying. Crew to be confirmed except Scheerboom and De La Mothe.

13 Mar 1944

ND362

UL-Q2

Training

nk

nk

1h45

P1   Flt Sgt W.A. Scheerboom
P2   
FE   Sgt H.R. Piper
AB   Flt Sgt R.J. Tinsley
NAV  Fg Off W. Woodfine
WOp  Sgt C.E. Harris
MUG  Sgt D. Hannah
RG   Sgt J.G. De la Mothe

NOTES:

'Y' (H2S) cross-country navigation exercise. Crew to be confirmed except Scheerboom and De La Mothe.

14 Mar 1944

LL800

UL-S2

Training

nk

nk

2h00

P1   Flt Sgt W.A. Scheerboom
P2   
FE   Sgt H.R. Piper
AB   Flt Sgt R.J. Tinsley
NAV  Fg Off W. Woodfine
WOp  Sgt C.E. Harris
MUG  Sgt D. Hannah
RG   Sgt J.G. De la Mothe

NOTES:

Simulated bombing attacks and 2- and 3-engine flying. Crew to be confirmed except Scheerboom and De La Mothe.

15 Mar 1944

LL830

UL-R2

STUTTGART

1910

0300

7h50

P1   Flt Sgt W.A. Scheerboom
P2   
FE   Sgt H.R. Piper
AB   Flt Sgt R.J. Tinsley
NAV  Fg Off W. Woodfine
WOp  Sgt C.E. Harris
MUG  Sgt D. Hannah
RG   Sgt J.G. De la Mothe

NOTES:

Target: Built-up area. Load: 1x 4000lb 'cookie', 96x 30lb and 750x 4lb incendiaries.

17 Mar 1944

LL800

UL-S2

Training

nk

nk

2h50

P1   Flt Sgt W.A. Scheerboom
P2   
FE   Sgt H.R. Piper
AB   Flt Sgt R.J. Tinsley
NAV  Fg Off W. Woodfine
WOp  Sgt C.E. Harris
MUG  Sgt D. Hannah
RG   Sgt J.G. De la Mothe

NOTES:

Fighter affiliation and local flying.

18 Mar 1944

ED888

UL-V2

FRANKFURT

1910

0125

6h15

P1   Flt Sgt W.A. Scheerboom
P2   
FE   Sgt H.R. Piper
AB   Flt Sgt R.J. Tinsley
NAV  Fg Off W. Woodfine
WOp  Sgt C.E. Harris
MUG  Sgt J.W.C. Labelle RCAF
RG   Sgt J.G. De la Mothe

NOTES:

Target: Built-up area. Load: 1x 4000lb 'cookie', 108x 30lb and 1062x 4lb incendiaries.

22 Mar 1944

JA715

UL-W2

FRANKFURT

1910

0110

6h00

P1   Flt Sgt W.A. Scheerboom
P2   
FE   Sgt H.R. Piper
AB   Flt Sgt R.J. Tinsley
NAV  Fg Off W. Woodfine
WOp  Sgt C.E. Harris
MUG  Sgt D. Hannah
RG   Sgt J.G. De la Mothe

NOTES:

Target: Built-up area. Load: 1x 4000lb 'cookie'; 108x 30lb and 1062x 4lb incendiaries.

24 Mar 1944

JA715

UL-W2

BERLIN

1905

0305

8h00

P1   Flt Sgt W.A. Scheerboom
P2   
FE   Sgt H.R. Piper
AB   Flt Sgt R.J. Tinsley
NAV  Fg Off W. Woodfine
WOp  Sgt C.E. Harris
MUG  Sgt D. Hannah
RG   Sgt J.G. De la Mothe

NOTES:

Target: Built-up area. Load: 1x 4000lb 'cookie', 108x 30lb and 924x 4lb incendiaries. Attacked by a single-engined enemy fighter at approximately 2243 hrs at 22,000 ft, position 5205N 01313E. Sgt Hannah in the mid-upper turret ordered evasive action, and both gunners opened fire, but no hits were observed on the enemy aircraft which broke off the attack without returning fire. The Combat Report can be found on Sgts Hannah and De la Mothe's profiles. On their return to England, the crew were diverted to Enstone due to poor visibility at base.

26 Mar 1944

JA715

*UL-D2

Enstone to Elsham Wolds

nk

nk

1h00

P1   Flt Sgt W.A. Scheerboom
P2   
FE   Sgt H.R. Piper
AB   Flt Sgt R.J. Tinsley
NAV  Fg Off W. Woodfine
WOp  Sgt C.E. Harris
MUG  Sgt D. Hannah
RG   Sgt J.G. De la Mothe

NOTES:

Return from diversion. Annotated as 26 March in De la Mothe's logbook but possibly flown on 25 March - tbc.

26 Mar 1944

JA715

*UL-D2

ESSEN

2010

0115

5h05

P1   Flt Sgt W.A. Scheerboom
P2   
FE   Sgt H.R. Piper
AB   Flt Sgt R.J. Tinsley
NAV  Fg Off W. Woodfine
WOp  Sgt C.E. Harris
MUG  Sgt D. Hannah
RG   Sgt J.G. De la Mothe

NOTES:

Target: Built-up area. Load: 1x 4000lb 'cookie', 108x 30lb and 1170x 4lb incendiaries.

30 Mar 1944

JA715

UL-W2

NUREMBURG

2000

0615

10h15

P1   Flt Sgt W.A. Scheerboom
P2   
FE   Sgt H.R. Piper
AB   Flt Sgt R.J. Tinsley
NAV  Fg Off W. Woodfine
WOp  Sgt C.E. Harris
MUG  Sgt D. Hannah
RG   Sgt J.G. De la Mothe

NOTES:

Target: Built-up area. Load: 1x 4000lb 'cookie', 108x 30lb and 1020x 4lb incendiaries. Attacked by a Ju-88 at approximately 0029 hrs at 20,000 ft, position 5028N 00813E. Sgt De la Mothe (rear) ordered evasive action and both he and Sgt Hannah (mid-upper) opened fire, claiming hits on the enemy fighter, which broke away after one attack and was not seen again. No hits were sustained by the Lancaster. The Combat Report can be found in Sgts Hannah and De la Mothe's profiles.

01 Apr 1944

LL796

UL-T2

Training

nk

nk

1h45

P1   Flt Sgt W.A. Scheerboom
P2   
FE   Sgt H.R. Piper
AB   Flt Sgt R.J. Tinsley
NAV  Fg Off W. Woodfine
WOp  Sgt C.E. Harris
MUG  Sgt D. Hannah
RG   Sgt J.G. De la Mothe

NOTES:

Visual Monica training.

11 Apr 1944

JA715

UL-W2

AACHEN

2025

0025

4h00

P1   Flt Sgt W.A. Scheerboom
P2   
FE   Sgt H.R. Piper
AB   Flt Sgt R.J. Tinsley
NAV  Fg Off W. Woodfine
WOp  Sgt C.E. Harris
MUG  Sgt S.I. Bott
RG   Sgt J.G. De la Mothe

NOTES:

Target: Marshalling yards. Load: 12x 1000lb bombs, 300x 4lb incendiaries.

13 Apr 1944

JA715

UL-W2

Air Test

nk

nk

0h30

P1   Flt Sgt W.A. Scheerboom
P2   
FE   Sgt H.R. Piper
AB   Flt Sgt R.J. Tinsley
NAV  Fg Off W. Woodfine
WOp  Sgt A.A. Harris RAAF
MUG  Sgt D. Hannah
RG   Sgt J.G. De la Mothe

NOTES:

Air test. Sgt D Hannah to be confirmed (possibly Sgt S I Bott)

16 Apr 1944

ND362

UL-Q2

Training

nk

nk

1h40

P1   Flt Sgt W.A. Scheerboom
P2   
FE   Sgt H.R. Piper
AB   Flt Sgt R.J. Tinsley
NAV  Fg Off W. Woodfine
WOp  Sgt C.E. Harris
MUG  Sgt D. Hannah
RG   Sgt J.G. De la Mothe

NOTES:

Local flying.

19 Apr 1944

JA715

UL-W2

Training

nk

nk

0h30

P1    W.A. Scheerboom
P2   
FE    H.R. Piper
AB    R.J. Tinsley
NAV  Fg Off W. Woodfine
WOp   C.E. Harris
MUG   D. Hannah
RG   Sgt J.G. De la Mothe

NOTES:

Fighter affiliation.

20 Apr 1944

JA715

UL-W2

COLOGNE

2340

0420

4h40

P1   Flt Sgt W.A. Scheerboom
P2   
FE   Sgt H.R. Piper
AB   Flt Sgt R.J. Tinsley
NAV  Fg Off W. Woodfine
WOp  Sgt C.E. Harris
MUG  Sgt D. Hannah
RG   Sgt J.G. De la Mothe

NOTES:

Target: Built-up areas to the north and west of the city centre. Load: 1x 4000lb 'cookie', 108x 30lb and 1170x 4lb incendiaries.

22 Apr 1944

JA715

UL-W2

DUSSELDORF

nk

nk

DNTO

P1   Flt Sgt W.A. Scheerboom
P2   
FE   Sgt H.R. Piper
AB   Flt Sgt R.J. Tinsley
NAV  Fg Off W. Woodfine
WOp  Sgt C.E. Harris
MUG  Sgt D. Hannah
RG   Sgt J.G. De la Mothe

NOTES:

Target: Built-up area to the north of the city centre. Load: 1x 4000lb 'cookie', 108x 30lb and 1170x 4lb incendiaries. Mission abandoned as the aircraft was unable to take off due to the runway being obstructed by the ground collision of UL-G2 and UL-Q2. By the time the runway was cleared it was too late to accomplish the mission.

24 Apr 1944

JA715

UL-W2

KARLSRUHE

2205

0420

6h15

P1   Flt Sgt W.A. Scheerboom
P2   
FE   Sgt H.R. Piper
AB   Flt Sgt R.J. Tinsley
NAV  Fg Off W. Woodfine
WOp  Sgt C.E. Harris
MUG  Sgt D. Hannah
RG   Sgt J.G. De la Mothe

NOTES:

Target: Built-up area. Load: 1st wave: 1x 4000lb ‘cookie’, 96x 30lb and 1170 x 4lb incendiaries. 2nd wave: 1x 4000lb ‘cookie’, 84x 30lb and 1170x 4lb incendiaries. 3rd wave: 1x 4000lb ‘cookie’, 96x 30lb and 1050x 4lb incendiaries. Supporters: 6x 2000lb bombs. It has not been determined in which wave JA715 flew.

26 Apr 1944

JA715

UL-W2

ESSEN

2300

0330

4h30

P1   Flt Sgt W.A. Scheerboom
P2   
FE   Sgt H.R. Piper
AB   Flt Sgt R.J. Tinsley
NAV  Fg Off W. Woodfine
WOp  Sgt C.E. Harris
MUG  Sgt D. Hannah
RG   Sgt J.G. De la Mothe

NOTES:

Target: Built-up area and Krupps works. Loads: 1st Wave: 1x 4000lb ‘cookie’, 108x 30lb and 1170x 4lb incendiaries. 2nd Wave: 1x 4000lb ‘cookie’, 60x 30lb and 660x 4lb incendiaries. 3rd Wave: 1x 1000lb, 1x 500lb bombs, 84x 30lb and 1050x 4lb incendiaries. 4th Wave: 1x 4000lb ‘cookie’, 60x 30lb and 600x 4lb incendiaries. 5th Wave: 1x 1000lb, 1x 500lb bombs, 84x 30lb and 960x 4lb incendiaries. It has not been determined in which wave JA715 flew.

27 Apr 1944

JA715

UL-W2

FRIEDRICHSHAFEN

2130

0600

8h30

P1   Flt Sgt W.A. Scheerboom
P2   
FE   Sgt H.R. Piper
AB   Flt Sgt R.J. Tinsley
NAV  Fg Off W. Woodfine
WOp  Sgt C.E. Harris
MUG  Sgt D. Hannah
RG   Sgt J.G. De la Mothe

NOTES:

Target: Marshalling yards. Loads: 1st Wave: 1x 1000lb, 1x 500lb bombs, 84x 30lb and 1050x 4lb incendiaries 2nd Wave: 1x 4000lb ‘cookie’, 30x 30lb and 600x 4lb incendiaries 3rd Wave: 1x 1000lb, 1x500lb bombs, 84x 30lb and 960x 4lb incendiaries. It is not known in which wave JA715 flew.

30 Apr 1944

ME703

UL-S2

MAINTENON

2130

0230

5h00

P1   Flt Sgt W.A. Scheerboom
P2   
FE   Sgt H.R. Piper
AB   Flt Sgt R.J. Tinsley
NAV  Fg Off W. Woodfine
WOp  Sgt C.E. Harris
MUG  Sgt D. Hannah
RG   Sgt J.G. De la Mothe

NOTES:

Target: Ammunition dump. Load: 11x 1000lb, 4x 500lb bombs.

01 May 1944

ME703

UL-S2

LYON

2125

0445

7h20

P1   Flt Sgt W.A. Scheerboom
P2   
FE   Sgt H.R. Piper
AB   Flt Sgt R.J. Tinsley
NAV  Fg Off W. Woodfine
WOp  Sgt C.E. Harris
MUG  Sgt D. Hannah
RG   Sgt J.G. De la Mothe

NOTES:

Target: Soc. Berliet motor works. Load: 11x 1000lb, 1x 500lb bombs.

11 May 1944

ND903

UL-R2

HASSELT

2135

0135

4h00

P1   Plt Off W.A. Scheerboom
P2   
FE   Sgt H.R. Piper
AB   Flt Sgt R.J. Tinsley
NAV  Fg Off W. Woodfine
WOp  Sgt C.E. Harris
MUG  Sgt D. Hannah
RG   Sgt J.G. De la Mothe

NOTES:

Target: Marshalling yards. Load: 11x 1000lb, 4x 500lb bombs. The Master Bomber was unable to identify the target visually and instructed all aircraft to return to base with their bombs.

14 May 1944

ME687

UL-S2

Training

nk

nk

3h15

P1   Plt Off W.A. Scheerboom
P2   
FE   Sgt H.R. Piper
AB   Flt Sgt R.J. Tinsley
NAV  Fg Off W. Woodfine
WOp  Sgt C.E. Harris
MUG  Sgt D. Hannah
RG   Sgt J.G. De la Mothe

NOTES:

'Y' (H2S) cross-country navigation exercise.

15 May 1944

ND903

UL-R2

Training

1430

1645

2h15

P1   Plt Off W.A. Scheerboom
P2   
FE   Sgt H.R. Piper
AB   Flt Sgt R.J. Tinsley
NAV  Fg Off W. Woodfine
WOp  Sgt C.E. Harris
MUG  Sgt D. Hannah
RG   Sgt J.G. De la Mothe

NOTES:

'Y' (H2S) cross-country navigation exercise.

17 May 1944

ME792

UL-Q2

Training

nk

nk

1h45

P1   Plt Off W.A. Scheerboom
P2   
FE   Sgt H.R. Piper
AB   Flt Sgt R.J. Tinsley
NAV  Fg Off W. Woodfine
WOp  Sgt C.E. Harris
MUG  Sgt D. Hannah
RG   Sgt J.G. De la Mothe

NOTES:

'Y' (H2S) cross-country navigation exercise.

19 May 1944

ME800

UL-W2

ORLEANS

2145

0300

5h15

P1   Plt Off W.A. Scheerboom
P2   
FE   Sgt H.R. Piper
AB   Flt Sgt R.J. Tinsley
NAV  Fg Off W. Woodfine
WOp  Sgt C.E. Harris
MUG  Sgt D. Hannah
RG   Sgt J.G. De la Mothe

NOTES:

Target: The marshalling yards at Fleury-les-Aubrais. Load: 11x 1000lb, 4x 500lb bombs.

21 May 1944

ME800

UL-W2

DUISBERG

2215

0315

5h00

P1   Plt Off W.A. Scheerboom
P2   
FE   Sgt H.R. Piper
AB   Flt Sgt R.J. Tinsley
NAV  Fg Off W. Woodfine
WOp  Sgt C.E. Harris
MUG  Sgt D. Hannah
RG   Sgt J.G. De la Mothe

NOTES:

Target: Built-ip area. Load: 1x 4000lb 'cookie', 204x 30lb incendiaries.

22 May 1944

ME800

UL-W2

DORTMUND

2215

0315

5h00

P1   Plt Off W.A. Scheerboom
P2   
FE   Sgt H.R. Piper
AB   Flt Sgt R.J. Tinsley
NAV  Fg Off W. Woodfine
WOp  Sgt C.E. Harris
MUG  Sgt D. Hannah
RG   Sgt J.G. De la Mothe

NOTES:

Target: Built-up area. Load: 1x 4000lb 'cookie', 108x 30lb and 1170x 4lb incendiaries.

24 May 1944

ME800

UL-W2

AACHEN

2320

0440

5h20

P1   Plt Off W.A. Scheerboom
P2   
FE   Sgt H.R. Piper
AB   Flt Sgt R.J. Tinsley
NAV  Fg Off W. Woodfine
WOp  Sgt C.E. Harris
MUG  Sgt D. Hannah
RG   Sgt J.G. De la Mothe

NOTES:

Target: The marshalling yards at Aachen West and Rothe-Erde. Load: 11x 1000lb, 4x 500lb bombs.

26 May 1944

ND994

UL-F2

Training

nk

nk

0h50

P1   Plt Off W.A. Scheerboom
P2   
FE   Sgt H.R. Piper
AB   Flt Sgt R.J. Tinsley
NAV  Fg Off W. Woodfine
WOp  Sgt C.E. Harris
MUG  Sgt D. Hannah
RG   Sgt J.G. De la Mothe

NOTES:

Fighter affiliation.

27 May 1944

ME800

UL-W2

AACHEN

2345

0415

4h30

P1   Plt Off W.A. Scheerboom
P2   
FE   Sgt L. Roberts
AB   Flt Sgt R.J. Tinsley
NAV  Fg Off W. Woodfine
WOp  Sgt C.E. Harris
MUG  Sgt D. Hannah
RG   Sgt J.G. De la Mothe

NOTES:

Target: The marshalling yards at Aachen East and Rothe-Erde. Load 11x 1000lb, 4x 500lb bombs.

28 May 1944

ME800

UL-W2

Training

nk

nk

3h30

P1   Plt Off W.A. Scheerboom
P2   
FE   Sgt H.R. Piper
AB   Flt Sgt R.J. Tinsley
NAV  Fg Off W. Woodfine
WOp  Sgt C.E. Harris
MUG  Sgt D. Hannah
RG   Sgt J.G. De la Mothe

NOTES:

'Y' (H2S) cross-country navigation exercise. Flight Engineer tbc but probably Piper. If not, possibly Sgt L Roberts.

31 May 1944

ME800

UL-W2

Training

nk

nk

0h30

P1   Plt Off W.A. Scheerboom
P2   
FE   Sgt H.R. Piper
AB   Flt Sgt R.J. Tinsley
NAV  Fg Off W. Woodfine
WOp  Sgt C.E. Harris
MUG  Sgt D. Hannah
RG   Sgt J.G. De la Mothe

NOTES:

'Y' (H2S) cross-country navigation exercise. Because of the short flight time, this flight was probably aborted for some reason tbc.

02 Jun 1944

ME800

UL-W2

CALAIS

2235

0135

3h00

P1   Plt Off W.A. Scheerboom
P2   
FE   Sgt H.R. Piper
AB   Flt Sgt R.J. Tinsley
NAV  Fg Off W. Woodfine
WOp  Sgt C.E. Harris
MUG  Sgt D. Hannah
RG   Sgt J.G. De la Mothe

NOTES:

Target: Coastal gun battery. Load: 11x 1000lb, 4x 500lb bombs. The attacks against gun batteries in the Pas de Calais was part of a plan to deceive the Germans that the forthcoming invasion was to be in this area, and not Normandy.

03 Jun 1944

ME800

UL-W2

WIMEREUX (BOULOGNE)

2305

0220

3h15

P1   Plt Off W.A. Scheerboom
P2   
FE   Sgt H.R. Piper
AB   Flt Sgt R.J. Tinsley
NAV  Fg Off W. Woodfine
WOp  Sgt C.E. Harris
MUG  Sgt D. Hannah
RG   Sgt J.G. De la Mothe

NOTES:

Target: Coastal gun battery. Load: 1x 4000lb 'cookie', 15 or 16x 500lb bombs. The attack was part of the plan to deceive the Germans that the forthcoming invasion was to be in this area, and not Normandy.

PERSONAL INFORMATION

Details

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PHOTOS & DOCUMENTS

Details

19 Flight, No.1 Aircrew Reception Centre, London, August 1941. Woodfine is front row, 6th from left

Woodfine Family

Wilfred Woodfine as a trainee in 1941 - possibly an enlistment photograph

Woodfine Family

No.3 Initial Training Wing, Torquay, Sep-Nov 1941. Woodfine third row, 5th from left

Woodfine Family

No.2 Elementary Flying Training School, Fort William, Ontario, March 1942. Woodfine back row, 2nd from right

Woodfine Family

48 Course photograph, No.2 Elementary Flying Training School, Fort William, Ontario, January-April 1942. Woodfine back row, 2nd from right

Woodfine Family

Woodfine with two colleagues at No.2 Elementary Flying Training School. On the reverse is written, 'Oscar, Alan and I, Fort William, March 1942'.

Woodfine Family

Wilfred Woodfine - Probably his Commissioning photograph on being awarded his Navigator's (N) brevet, 30 December 1942

Woodfine Family

The W A Sheerboom crew, No.576 Squadron, Elsham Wolds. Woodfine is not identifiable, so possibly taken before he joined the crew in March 1944.

Source not known

'B' Flight, No.576 Squadron, Elsham Wolds, March 1944. Woodfine front row 2nd from right

Matthew Wood private collection

Woodfine 576 Sqn Logbook 1

Woodfine Family

Woodfine 576 Sqn Logbook 2

Woodfine Family

Woodfine 576 Sqn Logbook 3

Woodfine Family

Woodfine 576 Sqn Logbook 4

Woodfine Family

Woodfine 576 Sqn Logbook 5

Woodfine Family

Woodfine 576 Sqn Logbook 6

Woodfine Family

Woodfine 576 Sqn Logbook 7

Woodfine Family

Woodfine in India, 1945

Woodfine Family

Woodfine in Egypt, probably 1945

Woodfine Family

A collection of Woodfine's Service books

Woodfine Family

Flt Lt Wilfred Woodfine

Woodfine Family