‘I was trapped and frantically trying to get out. Eventually I gave up struggling, waiting to hit the ground’
RAF fighter pilot George Wood slipped peacefully away to meet his maker this week, after recording for posterity one of the great untold stories of the Second World War. George died on Tuesday, four days before his 98th birthday. But earlier this month he revealed exclusively to the Daily Express the full incredible story of his miracle escape over occupied France, and his survival against all the odds.
After his fighter plane was hit by enemy fire, it split in two and the cockpit plummeted towards the ground with George trapped inside.
He prayed to God to save his life. And what happened next had such a profound effect on him, he devoted the rest of his life to the church.
In his twilight years, although almost blind, virtually deaf and barely able to walk a few paces, George somehow summoned the strength to write his autobiography to raise funds for his care home.
“It appears I might have a new career as an author,” George chuckled earlier this month in what was to be his last interview.
When war broke out, George was working as a messenger in London’s Fleet Street. But the Luftwaffe’s nightly bombing raids spurred him to volunteer for aircrew as soon as he was old enough, and he was eventually assigned to the RAF’s 263 squadron atWarmwell in Dorset.
ANATURAL flier, he excelled at the controls of Westland Whirlwind aircraft, which had four cannon machine guns in their nose capable of ripping targets to shreds in deadly low-flying attacks.
Faster than Spitfires or Hurricanes, the single-seaters could also carry bombs under their wings, making them a much feared combat aircraft.
“September 23, 1943, is a day I shall never forget,” recalled George. “We had a big raid, people were nervous. Our target was Ploujean airfield at Morlaix in Brittany.
“It was to be a dive-bombing attack, which was not unusual. Flak greeted us as we flew over the coast, heavier than expected. Then came the flak at the airfield.
“We began the dive, reaching over 400mph.
As I released the bombs there was an almighty explosion which must have been caused by flak hitting the bombs. My aircraft disintegrated.”
An accompanying Spitfire pilot described the scene as being “like a flower bursting into bloom”.
George adds: “The only part of the stricken aircraft left intact was the cockpit – with me inside.”
Unlike other RAF aircraft, Whirlwinds didn’t have a lever to release the hood of the cockpit in an emergency. Pilots had to reach a release handle and then unwind it. But George was unable to get to it. “I was trapped and frantically trying to get out. Eventually I gave up struggling, waiting to hit the ground.” Moments from death, George, who had never been religious, screamed in terror: “Oh God, help me.’’ In that split second something he could never explain happened. The falling cockpit split in two for no apparent reason, unsealing him from the falling tomb. “The next moment I was outside in the open air and recalled a phrase taught in my parachute drill, ‘It won’t mean a thing if you don’t pull the string’.” Moments later he was drifting down to earth. Suddenly he realised that he was a perfect target for German soldiers beneath. He watched in horror as they aimed their guns at him – then missed. “I landed not far from a gun emplacement and began running, discarding my parachute as I ran, not