Richard Milo Wood
First Lieutenant, U.S. Army Air Forces

In August 1942, then-Second Lieutenant Richard Milo Wood was serving as Navigator on a B-17E Flying Fortress Bomber (SN 41-2439) in the 93rd Bombardment Squadron, 19th Bombardment Group (Heavy), Fifth Air Force, U.S. Army Air Forces.

During 6 - 7 August 1942, 2LT Wood’s unit was in action against Japanese forces between Queensland, Australia and Rabaul, New Britain. On 6 August, when his plane returned to its base in Queensland, Australia, from a bombing mission at Lae, New Guinea, due to a disabled engine, 2LT Wood knew that his 19th Bombardment Group was to execute an important mission on the following day. Since the participation of every available airplane was essential, 2LT Wood volunteered to accompany his airplane commander, Captain Harl Pease, Jr., on this mission in an B-17 that had been declared unsuitable for combat duty. Rejoining his squadron at Port Moresby, New Guinea, after having flown almost continuously during the preceding 19 hours, after only 3 hours rest, 2LT Wood's bomber and crew of 9 took off for the Group's mass attack on the Japanese-occupied Vunakanau Airfield, southwest of Rabaul, East New Britain Province, Papua New Guinea. Although his Group's planes were intercepted by about 30 Japanese Zero fighters as they approached the target, the bombers made a highly successful bombing attack. During the hostile fighter action, the B-17 in which 2LT Wood was a crew member was in the part of the bomber formation that bore the brunt of a Japanese fighter attack that lasted for 25 minutes. The crews of other bombers in the formation observed 2LT Wood's plane dropping a blazing bomb-bay tank and then falling behind the formation due to a damaged engine. 2LT Wood’s courageous actions and extraordinary heroism that day earned him, at the cost of his life, the U.S. Army's second highest award for valor, the Distinguished Service Cross.

It was later learned that B-17E Flying Fortress Bomber (SN 41-2439) had crashed near Makurapau, East New Britain Province, Papua New Guinea. Seven of the 9 crew members were killed in the crash; the 2 other crew members were captured as Prisoners of War.

Medals, Awards and Badges

Distinguished Service Cross
Purple Heart
American Defense Service Medal
American Campaign Medal
Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal
World War II Victory Medal
Army Air Force Navigator Badge

Distinguished Service Cross Citation

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Second Lieutenant (Air Corps) Richard Milo Wood (ASN: 0-433151), United States Army Air Forces, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as an Officer of a B-17 Heavy Bomber in the 93d Bombardment Squadron, 19th Bombardment Group (H), FIFTH Air Force, in action between Queensland, Australia and Rabaul, New Britain, on 6 - 7 August 1942. When the airplane, in which he was an officer, returned to its base in Queensland, Australia, from a bombing mission at Lae, New Guinea, because of a disabled engine, Lieutenant Wood, knowing that his group was to execute on the following day an important mission in which the participation of every available airplane was essential, volunteered to accompany his airplane commander on this mission in an airplane which had been declared unserviceable for combat duty. Rejoining his squadron at Port Moresby, New Guinea, after having flown almost continuously during the preceding nineteen hours, he took off, after only three hours rest, in a mass attack by his group on an enemy-occupied airdrome near Rabaul, New Britain. Despite interception by about thirty enemy fighters as the target was approached, the group made a highly successful bombing attack. During the hostile fighter action, the airplane in which Lieutenant Wood was an officer, was on the wing which bore the brunt of the enemy attack lasting for twenty-five minutes. It was observed to drop a blazing bomb-bay tank and fall behind the formation. The personal courage and zealous devotion to duty displayed by Second Lieutenant Wood on this occasion have upheld the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, the 5th Air Force, and the United States Army Air Forces.

Headquarters, South West Pacific Area, General Orders No. 34 (September 15, 1942)

Memorialization

The remains of First Lieutenant Richard Milo Wood have never been recovered. He is memorialized by having his name inscribed on the Walls of the Missing at the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial in Manila, Capital District, National Capital Region, Philippines.

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/56791980/richard-milo-wood