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Auction: 23003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 112

Four: Flying Officer R. W. Woodrow, Royal Air Force, who along with his Air Bomber Sergeant W. N. Watson were both murdered in cold blood by German Policeman Fritz Schulze, who in turn was executed for these war crimes in 1947 and was probably hanged by Albert Pierrepoint

1939-1945 Star; France and Germany Star; Defence Medal; War Medal 1939-1945, sold together with named Condolence Slip and named box of issue, extremely fine (4)

Roy William Woodrow in 1921 at Bristol, the son of William and Mary Woodrow of Southville, Bristol. He served as the pilot of Lancaster 'NF926' of No. 216 Squadron (Gold Coast) based at RAF Chedburgh in Suffolk. He was tasked on 31 December 1944 with carrying out a daylight bombing operation on the railway yards at Vohwinkel with a further 154 Lancasters from 3 Group.

The raid was not successful and Woodrow's Lancaster crashed at around 1450hrs on Somerstrasse. Woodrow and his Air Bomber Sergeant W. N. Watson both survived the crash, whilst the rest of the crew perished.

Of these two survivors, one of them was trapped by his legs kept shouting for help, but passers by turned their backs shouting "a murderer of women and children" except for Fritz Schulze, a German policeman who pulled his pistol out and shot both Woodrow and Watson.

Woodrow is buried in the Reichswald Forest War Cemetery. As for Fritz Schulze, he was tracked down, found guilty of war crimes and hanged at Hameln Prison on 14 November 1947. Whilst unconfirmed it is highly likely his execution was performed by Albert Pierrepoint who carried out a total of 69 executions at the Prison in 1947; sold together with ticker tape confirming awards.

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Sold for
£500

Starting price
£400