Veteran finally collects medals

Air Commodore Roger Harrison, Commander Air Lift Group, congratulates Alan Wood at the base parade. Photo by CPL Shane Gidall, 86WG

RAAF Richmond has honoured an 80-year-old former Air Force technician, Alan Wood, by presenting him with his WW2 Active Service medals.

Mr Wood, who served at No. 2 Aircraft Depot at Richmond during 1942, received the Australian Service Medal 1939-1945 and the War Medal from Commander Air Lift Group Air Commodore Roger Harrison in front of family and friends during a monthly base parade.

Until the previous night he was unaware he would be presented with the medals – which he had never received – during his visit to Richmond. The idea was originated by Mr Wood’s son, Graham, who works at the Air Lift Systems Program Office, a unit which traces its origins back to No. 2 Aircraft Depot.

GPCAPT Dave Richardson, Officer Commanding Air Lift Systems Program Office, said, “We’re very proud of our heritage and it seemed perfectly appropriate for us to present Mr Wood with his medals at Richmond. Commander Air Lift Group offered to make the presentation in front of the whole base, which was even better than originally expected.”

GPCAPT Richardson read a citation at the parade, acknowledging Mr Wood’s service, his post-war work in converting wartime Dakota and Wackett aircraft for civilian use, and his long association with the Victa Airtourer and Aircruiser aircraft, the latter being the forerunner of the Air Force’s CT4 Airtrainer.

“Mr Wood’s professionalism and enthusiasm, along with his loyalty, pride and dedication to duty, epitomise the very spirit which gave Australia its pioneering aviation heritage, and are truly reflective of our current Air Force values,” GPCAPT Richardson said.

Mr Wood, who has worked in aviation all his life and still flies his Victa Airtourer around Australia with his wife Merle as navigator, flew into Richmond for the parade in the prototype CT4. After the parade, he and his family enjoyed a tour of the base, lunch in the Officer’s Mess and a flight in the Boeing 707 Simulator, which he described as “a bit less responsive than my Airtourer”.

“Compared to others who had the opportunity to do so much more in the service, I felt very humbled and honoured to be received in the manner in which I was,” he said.

As he walked towards his Airtourer to depart, two Corporals ran out of a nearby hangar to shake Mr Wood’s hand and congratulate him.

Mr Wood served from January 22, 1940, until his discharge at the rank of Corporal on November 30, 1945.

His units included No. 2 Aircraft Depot, No. 1 Aircraft Depot, No. 6 Elementary Flight Training School, No. 2 Aircraft Park and No. 13 Aircraft Repair Depot.

Much of his time at No. 2 Aircraft Depot was spent assembling and repairing Lockheed Hudson bomber aircraft.

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