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411964 : Sergeant Robert Albert Francis WOODS.
Parents: Mr. and Mrs. J.F. Woods of AUCKLAND.

Robert Woods was born at Wellington on the 24th December, 1921 and received his secondary education at the Sacred Heart College, Auckland where he obtained his School Certificate. His sports were rugby, tennis and swimming and he was a member of his college senior swimming team. His civilian occupation was that of a clerk in the Audit Department and he was so employed when in August, 1940 he applied for War Service in the Royal New Zealand Air Force.

Sergeant Woods was enlisted for aircrew training on the 23rd March, 1941 at the Initial Training Wing, Levin and was posted on the 155th June, 1941 to No. 4 Elementary Flying Training School, Whenuapai, where he commenced flying training but this training was discontinued and on the 11th June, he was remustered to Air Gunner under training. On the 14th August, 1941 he embarked for Canada for training under the Empire Air Training Scheme.

Shortly after arrival in Canada, Sergeant Woods was posted on the 2nd September 1941 to No. 2 Service Flying Training School, Trenton, Ontario. He was posted on the 5th July, 1942 to No. 9 Bombing and Gunnery School, Mount Joli, Quebec, where on the 14th August, 1942 to No. 34 Operational Training Unit, Yarmouth, Nova Scotia. On the 15th September 1942 he proceeded to No. 1 "Y" Depot, Halifax, Nova Scotia to await embarkation for the United Kingdom.

Sergeant Wood arrived at No. 3 Personnel Reception Centre, Bournemouth on the 9th October 1942 and on the 1st December 1942 he was posted to No. 29 Operational Training Unit, first at North Luffenham, Rutland and later at Bruntingthorpe, Warwickshire. At these Stations he crewed up and completed his training on Wellington bomber aircraft. He was posted on the 18th April, 1943 to No. 1661 Conversion Unit, Winthorpe, Nottinghamshire, where