John Wooldridge, DSO, DFC & Bar, DFM (18 July 1919–27 October 1958) was born in Yokohoma, Japan. Educated at St Paul’s School, London, his first job was as secretary to a boys’ preparatory school in Norfolk. All his spare time was spent flying with the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve and studying music.
In April 1938 Wooldridge transferred to the regular Air Force as a Sergeant Pilot, getting past the age of admission rule by claiming that he was born in 1917. He took part in the British air raid on Kiel in September 1939, the first raid of the Second World War, and having brought his damaged aircraft home safely, he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Medal. Commissioned in August 1940, he rapidly rose to the rank of Flight Commander, flying Lancasters as a Flight Lieutenant. In 1942, for his part in the 1,000 bomber raid on Cologne, he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross.
In March 1943, Wooldridge was appointed Commanding Officer of No. 105 Squadron, which specialised in low-level precision daylight bombing using de Havilland Mosquito aircraft. His book, Low Attack, is a vivid account of two Mosquito squadrons which revolutionised aerial warfare.
Low Attack: The Story of Two Mosquito Squadrons in World War Two
A vivid account of two Mosquito squadrons which revolutionised aerial warfare.
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