Sidney Sterling Woods (25 July 1917 – 31 March 1989) was an American

fighter ace A flying ace, fighter ace or air ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down five or more enemy aircraft during aerial combat. The exact number of aerial victories required to officially qualify as an ace is varied, but is usually co ...

of World War II with 7 victories in Europe and the

Pacific theater The Pacific Ocean is the largest and deepest of Earth's five oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic Ocean in the north to the Southern Ocean (or, depending on definition, to Antarctica) in the south, and is bounded by the continen ...

Early years

Sidney Woods was born in

San Marcos, Texas San Marcos ( ) is a city and the county seat of Hays County, Texas, United States. The city's limits extend into Caldwell and Guadalupe Counties, as well. San Marcos is within the Austin–Round Rock metropolitan area and on the Interstate 35 ...

on July 25, 1917. He spent much of his youth in Arizona. He played quarterback for the University of Arizona from 1935 to 1939, and graduated in 1939.

Military service

U.S. Army Cavalry

Second Lieutenant Woods served the next two years (1939–1940) as a

cavalry Historically, cavalry (from the French word ''cavalerie'', itself derived from "cheval" meaning "horse") are soldiers or warriors who fight mounted on horseback. Cavalry were the most mobile of the combat arms, operating as light cavalry ...

man at Fort Bliss. He was accepted for flight training and graduated from pilot school in September 1941. As a member of the

U.S. Army Air Forces The United States Army Air Forces (USAAF or AAF) was the major land-based aerial warfare service component of the United States Army and ''de facto'' aerial warfare service branch of the United States during and immediately after World War II ...

, he was flying with the 49th Pursuit Group at the time of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.

World War II flying ace

In 1942 and 1943, while based in

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...

and the Southwest Pacific he flew Lockheed P-38 Lightnings and shot down two enemy aircraft in 112 combat missions. He returned to the U.S. in 1943. Woods spent six months commanding a P-38 training squadron before he was sent to Europe as a P-38 pilot with a new unit. He completed his first tour in Europe in late 1944. Subsequently, he returned to the European Theater of Operations (ETO) for another combat tour, flying

P-51 Mustang The North American Aviation P-51 Mustang is an American long-range, single-seat fighter and fighter-bomber used during World War II and the Korean War, among other conflicts. The Mustang was designed in April 1940 by a team headed by James ...

s with the 4th Fighter Group. As deputy group commander, Lt. Col. Woods became an ''ace in a day'' by downing five Focke-Wulf 190s on 22 March 1945. However, three weeks later he was shot down by flak over Prague, Czechoslovakia, on his 68th ETO mission when he was leading Group "A" in a strafing attack against the Luftwaffe bases in the area. He spent the remainder of the war as a prisoner of war. He was released from captivity about two months later. He was discharged in 1945, returning to Arizona.

Korean War

During the Korean War he was called to active duty (1951–1952) to command a training unit at Williams Air Force Base. He also led the Air Force Jet Acrobatic Team, the predecessor to the Air Force's Thunderbirds.

Decorations

Colonel Woods' decorations included the Army Distinguished Service Cross,

Silver Star The Silver Star Medal (SSM) is the United States Armed Forces' third-highest military decoration for valor in combat. The Silver Star Medal is awarded primarily to members of the United States Armed Forces for gallantry in action against an e ...

, three Distinguished Flying Crosses, ten

Air Medals The Air Medal (AM) is a military decoration of the United States Armed Forces. It was created in 1942 and is awarded for single acts of heroism or meritorious achievement while participating in aerial flight. Criteria The Air Medal was establish ...

, and the French

Croix de guerre The ''Croix de Guerre'' (, ''Cross of War'') is a military decoration of France. It was first created in 1915 and consists of a square-cross medal on two crossed swords, hanging from a ribbon with various degree pins. The decoration was first awa ...

. *

Distinguished Service Cross * Silver Star BAR

Distinguished Flying Cross with two oak leaf clusters * Air Medal ribbon

Air Medal with one silver oak leaf cluster and four bronze oak leaf clusters * Croix de Guerre 1939-1945 ribbon

French Croix de Guerre The ''Croix de Guerre'' (, ''Cross of War'') is a military decoration of France. It was first created in 1915 and consists of a square-cross medal on two crossed swords, hanging from a ribbon with various degree pins. The decoration was first aw ...

Civilian career

Woods settled in Arizona after World War II, becoming a successful Yuma businessman, flying his own aircraft, and as a founding member of the American Fighter Aces Association. He was a delegate to the

Republican National Convention The Republican National Convention (RNC) is a series of presidential nominating conventions held every four years since 1856 by the United States Republican Party. They are administered by the Republican National Committee. The goal of the Repu ...

in 1964. Sid Woods died of cancer at age 71 and his alma mater established an alumni service award in his honor.

External links

4th Fighter Group Association WWII

Woods' combat report for 22 March 1945
{{DEFAULTSORT:Woods, Sidney Sterling 1917 births 1989 deaths American World War II flying aces Arizona Wildcats football players Aviators from Texas People from San Marcos, Texas Recipients of the Distinguished Service Cross (United States) Recipients of the Silver Star Recipients of the Distinguished Flying Cross (United States) Recipients of the Croix de Guerre 1939–1945 (France) Recipients of the Air Medal United States Air Force officers United States Army Air Forces officers United States Army Air Forces pilots of World War II United States Army officers World War II prisoners of war held by Germany Military personnel from Texas