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Navy Federal Credit Union
Sidney
Sterling
Woods
POW (WWII)
July 25, 1917

–

March 31, 1989

Born:

San Marcos

, 

Texas

Home:

Yuma

, 

Arizona

Buried: 

Yuma

, 

Arizona

Cemetery:

Desert Lawn Memorial Park

During World War II, Sidney Woods became a U.S. Army Air Forces ACE-in-a-DAY in the mission that earned him the Distinguished Service Cross, and was credited with shooting down a total of 7 enemy aircraft in aerial combat. Three weeks after his DSC mission he was shot down by flak over Prague, Czechoslovakia on his 68th mission He spent the remainder of the war as a prisoner of war. He was released from captivity about two months later. After the war he transferred to the new U.S. Air Force Reserves, was activated during the Korean War and retired from the Air Force Reserves in 1962 as a Colonel.

Awards Received

  • Silver Star

    Service:

    United States Army Air Forces

    Rank:

    Major (Air Corps)

    Batallion:

    9th Fighter Squadron

    Regiment:

    49th Fighter Group

    Division:

    5th Air Force

    Action Date:

    World War II
    Headquarters, 5th Air Force, General Orders No. 189 (September 2, 1943)

    (Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Major (Air Corps) Sidney Sterling Woods (ASN: 0-377222), United States Army Air Forces, for gallantry in action against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a P-38 Lightning Fighter Airplane of the 9th Fighter Squadron, 49th Fighter Group, FIFTH Air Force, in aerial operations in the Southwest Pacific Theater of Operations, in 1943. The gallant actions and dedicated devotion to duty demonstrated by Major Woods, without regard for his own life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Army Air Forces.

  • Distinguished Flying Cross

    Service:

    United States Army Air Forces

    Rank:

    Lieutenant Colonel (Air Corps)

    Regiment:

    4th Fighter Group

    Division:

    8th Air Force

    Action Date:

    World War II

    (Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: Lieutenant Colonel (Air Corps) Sidney Sterling Woods (ASN: 0-377222), United States Army Air Forces, was awarded a Second Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Third Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as a p-51 Fighter Pilot of the 4th Fighter Group, EIGHTH Air Force, in action against the enemy in aerial combat in the European Theater of Operations during World War II. The skillful and zealous manner in which he has sought out the enemy and destroyed him, his devotion to duty and courage under all conditions serve as an inspiration to his fellow flyers. His actions on all these occasions reflect the highest credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of the United States.

  • Distinguished Service Cross

    Service:

    United States Army Air Forces

    Rank:

    Lieutenant Colonel (Air Corps)

    Regiment:

    4th Fighter Group

    Division:

    8th Air Force

    Action Date:

    March 22, 1945
    Headquarters, U.S. Strategic Forces in Europe, General Orders No. 34 (April 10, 1945)

    The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Lieutenant Colonel (Air Corps) Sidney Sterling Woods (ASN: 0-377222), United States Army Air Forces, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as Pilot of a P-51 Fighter Airplane in the 4th Fighter Group, EIGHTH Air Force, in aerial combat against enemy forces on 22 March 1945, on the Oder River, near Berlin. Colonel Woods was leading an element of his Fighter Group in an attack on a numerically superior hostile force when he encountered approximately 20 fighters, apparently forming after taking off from an airfield. With complete disregard for his personal safety, he unhesitatingly attacked four enemy aircraft and destroyed one of them. In spite of the constant intense flak thrown up by the enemy ground defenders and the superior enemy numbers, Colonel Woods attacked their aircraft relentlessly, destroying four additional enemy fighters. The extraordinary heroism and determination to destroy the enemy displayed by Lieutenant Colonel Woods on this occasion are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflects great credit upon himself, the 8th Air Force, and the United States Army Air Forces.

  • Distinguished Flying Cross

    Service:

    United States Army Air Forces

    Rank:

    Major (Air Corps)

    Batallion:

    9th Fighter Squadron

    Regiment:

    49th Fighter Group

    Division:

    5th Air Force

    Action Date:

    World War II

    (Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: Major (Air Corps) Sidney Sterling Woods (ASN: 0-377222), United States Army Air Forces, was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as a P-38 Fighter Pilot of the 9th Fighter Squadron, 49th Fighter Group, FIFTH Air Force, in action against the enemy in aerial combat in the Pacific Theater of Operations during World War II. The skillful and zealous manner in which he has sought out the enemy and destroyed him, his devotion to duty and courage under all conditions serve as an inspiration to his fellow flyers. His actions on all these occasions reflect the highest credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of the United States.

  • Prisoner of War Medal

    Service:

    United States Army Air Forces

    Rank:

    Lieutenant Colonel (Air Corps)

    Division:

    Prisoner of War (Germany)

    Action Date:

    April 16, 1945 – May 1945
    NARA Database: Records of World War II Prisoners of War, created, 1942 – 16555

    Lieutenant Colonel (Air Corps) Sidney Sterling Woods (ASN: 0-377222), United States Army Air Forces, was captured by German forces after he was shot down on 16 April 1945, and was held as a Prisoner of War until his return to U.S. Military Control at the end of hostilities in May 1945.

  • Distinguished Flying Cross

    Service:

    United States Army Air Forces

    Rank:

    Lieutenant Colonel (Air Corps)

    Regiment:

    4th Fighter Group

    Division:

    8th Air Force

    Action Date:

    World War II

    (Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: Lieutenant Colonel (Air Corps) Sidney Sterling Woods (ASN: 0-377222), United States Army Air Forces, was awarded a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Second Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as a p-51 Fighter Pilot of the 4th Fighter Group, EIGHTH Air Force, in action against the enemy in aerial combat in the European Theater of Operations during World War II. The skillful and zealous manner in which he has sought out the enemy and destroyed him, his devotion to duty and courage under all conditions serve as an inspiration to his fellow flyers. His actions on all these occasions reflect the highest credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of the United States.