Jack Weston Wood

Military
Colonel Jack W Wood of the 448th Bomb Group. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Col Jack W Wood CO 20 CBW, became USAF Controller General Washington DC.' media-380609.jpg FRE 1789 Colonel Jack W Wood of the 448th Bomb Group. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Col Jack W Wood CO 20 CBW, became USAF Controller General Washington DC.' Roger Freeman Collection

IWM, Roger Freeman Collection

Object Number - FRE 1789 - Colonel Jack W Wood of the 448th Bomb Group. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Col Jack W Wood CO 20 CBW, became USAF Controller General Washington...

Born in Fairbault, Minn., in 1907, we won his wings by 1929. He rose swiftly through the ranks achieving the rank of Colonel and took command of the 20th Combat Bomb Wing of the Eighth Air Force. The following November he was named executive of the 14th Combat Bomb Wing, and in December 1944 was promoted to brigadier general and appointed chief of the British-American Air Component, Supreme Headquarters, Allied Expeditionary Forces Mission to France.



Took part in Operation Tidal Wave, the raid on Ploesti on 1 August 1943, flying B-24 Liberator #42-40629.



After a career in the Air Force, he retired with the rank of Major General. He died in 1995.

Connections

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Units served with

The insignia of the 389th Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 389th Bomb Group 564th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 15045876 / 0-325990
  • Highest Rank: Major General
  • Role/Job: Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 355th Fighter Group 389th Bomb Group 2nd Scouting Force 567th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-23828
  • Highest Rank: Brigadier General
  • Role/Job: Bomber Pilot / Fighter Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 389th Bomb Group 565th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-1699045
  • Highest Rank: Major
  • Role/Job: Co-Pilot / Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 389th Bomb Group 567th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
  • Role/Job: Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 389th Bomb Group 564th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 37038892 / O-740807
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Co-Pilot

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: - The Scorpion
  • Unit: 389th Bomb Group 565th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Unit: 389th Bomb Group 564th Bomb Squadron

Missions

Places

  • Site type: Airfield
  • Known as: Berka, al Birkah

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Faribault, Minnesota, U.S.A. 2 January 1907

Enlisted

24 February 1928 Appointed flying cadet.

Other

Ploesti Raid Briefing

31 July 1943 "During one of the rehearsal briefings, 389th commanding officer Colonel Jack Wood enjoined the men that after completing the bomb run, 'It's every man for himself! Hit the deck! Forget formation flying! Get the hell out of there! And no nurse-maiding,' or assisting a damaged plane in the group." Dan Masters, "Dragged Through the Mouth of Hell: Toledo's Contribution to Operation Tidal Wave, August 1, 1943," Northwest Ohio History Journal, Vol. 84, No. 1 (October 6, 2016).

Died

Orange County, California, USA 18 July 1994

Other

Awards

Distinguished Service Cross Distinguished Flying Cross Bronze Star Medal Air Medal with oak leaf cluster Commendation Ribbon American Campaign Medal Distinguished Unit Citation Emblem Most Excellent Order of the British Empire Honorary Commander Croix de Guerre with Palm Legion of Honor (French) National Defense Service Medal Air Force Longevity Service Award with six oak leaf clusters

Buried

Hillside Memorial Park, Redlands, San Bernardino County, California, USA

Revisions

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Contributorjmoore43
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Added punctuation in the "Summary biography" to aid clarity.

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ContributorDieterle
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Added unit taken from Biography.

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ContributorDieterle
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Sources

Dan Masters, "Dragged Through the Mouth of Hell: Toledo's Contribution to Operation Tidal Wave, August 1, 1943," Northwest Ohio History Journal, Vol. 84, No. 1 (October 6, 2016).

Date
ContributorDieterle
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Sources

Find a Grave > MG Jack Weston Wood

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ContributorDieterle
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U.S. Air Force site > Major General Jack Weston Wood; Find a Grave site > MG Jack Weston Wood.

Date
ContributorDieterle
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389th BG August 1, 1943 Crews and Aircraft. Philip Ardery, Bomber Pilot: A Memoir of World War II (Lexington: The University Press of Kentucky: 1978) 99.

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ContributorDieterle
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Philip Ardery, Bomber Pilot: A Memoir of World War II (Lexington: The University Press of Kentucky: 1978) 99. 389th BG August 1, 1943 Crews and Aircraft.

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Contributorjrugman
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Caption of a photograph on AAM website

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ContributorAAM
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14th Combat Bombardment Wing (H) by William B. Taylor / Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia

Jack Weston Wood: Gallery (4 items)