In Memory of
Army Technical Sergeant
Lyle C. Woods
Plankinton, South Dakota
Aurora County
March 10, 1914 – December 20, 1942
Killed in Action in the English Channel
Lyle Clifford Woods was born on March 10, 1914, to Clifford Allen and Catherine “Katie” (Williamson) Woods. He had two sisters, Dorothy and Elizabeth (Beth). Lyle went to Elm Grove School in Belford Township and then on to Plankinton High School, where he graduated as Valedictorian in the Class of 1932. After high school, Lyle farmed with his father until he entered the service. He was regarded as “an expert mechanic” for his ability to fix mechanical problems both at home and for his neighbors. In 1936, Lyle became a 4-H leader in Aurora County, encouraging 4-H members to pursue woodcraft and livestock projects. In 1941, Lyle was recognized for five years of dedicated service in 4-H and was elected Vice-President of the South Dakota Local Leaders Association.
Lyle enlisted in the Army Air Corps on January 5, 1942. He was trained at Sheppard Field, Wichita Falls, Texas, and then sent to Gowen Field at Boise, Idaho. On October 11, 1942, T/Sgt. Woods went overseas as a turret gunner on a B-17F. Their favorite B-17F plane, “Zombie,” was shot down over the English Channel on December 20, 1942. On December 23, 1942, T/Sgt. Lyle C. Woods’ family received a notification that he was missing in action; later they were notified that he was presumed dead. On May 9, 1946, Mrs. Woods received a letter from the Headquarters of the Army Air Forces, which stated in part:
Information received in this Headquarters indicates that Sergeant Woods
was the top turret gunner of a B-17 (Flying Fortress) bomber which departed
from England on a bombing mission over enemy occupied Continental Europe
on 20 December 1942. Briefing was given at 7:00 a.m. and twenty-one planes
took off at 11:00 a.m. for the 303rd Bombardment Group’s twelfth mission over
enemy territory. The primary target was Romily, France …. Seven planes failed
to complete the mission owing to mechanical difficulty, but the remaining fourteen
planes released their bombs on the primary target. Direct hits were reported and
photographs confirmed these reports. The returning crews were quite jubilant over
the results of the mission but two planes failed to return.
Every plane in the group had encounters with the enemy; returning crew members
claimed fifteen enemy aircraft destroyed and fifteen probably destroyed. Sergeant
Woods’ bomber was one of the two planes that were lost. His bomber was seen to
be shot down over the English Channel or on the Coast of France …. However,
further information has been received which indicates that the body of one of the
crew members, Staff Sergeant Warren G. Renner, was washed ashore at Pourville,
France, on 1 February 1943. Pourville is located two miles west of Dieppe. This
substantiates the belief that the plane went down in the English Channel. Inasmuch
as your son’s body was not recovered, an official finding of death was made in the his
case on 20 December 1943.
Technical Sergeant Lyle C. Woods, 359th Bomber Squadron, 303rd Bomber Group, Heavy, is buried at Plot B, Row 27, Grave 18, Ardennes American Cemetery at Neupre, Belgium. He was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart and the Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster for bravery in engineering and gunnery. His medals and Air Corps wings are on display at the former VFW building at Plankinton. Lyle was the first Aurora County soldier killed in WW II.
At the time of Lyle’s death, he was survived by his parents, two sisters, Dorothy Hobart and Elizabeth Olsen, and nieces and nephews. Niece Martha Hobart received Lyle’s Bible that contained a message from Lyle’s mom:
Grandpa and I thot [sic] it only fitting that you have your Uncle Lyle’s Bible;
as you were born Nov. 27, 1942, and he was called home Dec. 20-1942. A little
history connected with the Bible: It was among the things of his shipped back
from England after the report came of “missing in action.” There were so many
conflicting reports; so we have always clung to the first report; that they plane
ditched in the English Channel. Eleven crewmen along with it. Am sure you
will appreciate having it and get much use of it.
This entry was respectfully submitted by Sheila Hansen, Fallen Sons State Coordinator, Spearfish, SD. Information for this entry was provided by newspaper clippings, an application for a SD veteran’s bonus payment, and from information sent by Clyde Olsen, Plankinton, via Duane Casavan, Stickney.
