Personnel Index - Detail
Flew a total of 24 Hampden operations with 49Sqn. The first three as an Air Gunner and the remainder as the Wireless Operator with (mostly) the P/O Ralph Allsebrook crew.
On the 14th February 1942 whilst returning from operations against Bremen on one engine, their Hampden AE397 (EA-G) was forced to ditch when the second engine cut out over the English Channel.....click this link to view/download details of this incident (in a new window).
On the day of the ditching (Reg's 23rd operation) the crew were.......
Pilot: P/O R Allsebrook
W/Op: Sgt RLA Woolgar
Nav: Sgt P Stanbridge
AG: Sgt J W Wilkinson
Note: Only the Pilot & Wireless Operator were consistent members of the crew. The navigator was frequently replaced by a Second Pilot and there were several different air gunners.
Reg's membership card and uniform badge for the Goldfish Club (escaping death by using the emergency dinghy)
The summary of February in Reg's logbook includes the ditching incident - he was fortunate to be able to record the outcome in his logbook.
(Click this link or the image to view a larger version - in a new window)
The whole of Reg Woolgar's logbook and additional documents can be viewed on the IBCC website by following this link (opens in a new window).
Following a number of promotions and the award of a DFC, F/L R.L.A. Woolgar completed a second tour as Gunnery Leader of 192 Squadron, 100 Group.
He later joined the Movements Branch at Air Ministry in the Middle East finally flying with 38 Squadron at Ein Shemer in Palestine, before returning to the U.K. in September 1947.
The 'Dog Tags' of, now commissioned, Reg Woolgar
Images courtesy of Reg Woolgar
At the Annual Reunion in 2015, Reg tells the story of the ditching (4:54mins)
A shorter version where Reg Woolgar tells Fred Hill his story (1:32mins)
Videos courtesy of Alan Parr - Secretary, 49Squadron Association