Flying Officer Brian Wallace Woodman

Brian Woodman was born in the Nelson area and was educated at Nelson College during 1936 - 39. He was a member of the College’s First Fifteen and its shooting champion in 1939.

Joining the RNZAF in July 1942 nothing is known of Woodman's service career until 1945 when he joined 130 Squadron RAF who were equipped with the 2000hp Spitfire - the Griffon engined Supermarine Mk XIV. 
 
The Mk XIV Spitfire had been used during 1944 in anti - diver patrols (destroying V-1 Flying Bombs) but by September when the flying bomb menace had passed 130 Squadron were posted to Europe and almost immediately entered into action. 
 
By late March 1945 No. 130 Squadron were utilising their aircraft both in armed reconnaissance and the ground strafing of enemy mechanised transport. On the 28th of that month eight Spitfires of this squadron attacked fifteen Focke Wulf 190D’s over Warendorf and claimed seven destroyed, Brian Woodman claiming one definite and one damaged. 
 
During early April No. 125 Wing (of which 130 Squadron formed a part) moved to Airfield B-106 at Twente. This new base was only five miles from the German border and No. 125 became the first Wing to operate from an airfield east of the Rhine. The scoring successes of 130 Squadron continued throughout April and early on the morning of the 24th six Spitfires from that squadron chased a Focke Wulf 190 to Neustadt airfield, where others were found orbiting. Three were destroyed, including one by Woodman. 
 
On the 26th April Pilot Officer Brian Woodman was promoted to Flying Officer. 
 
On the last day of April he shot down a Siebel 204 into Lake Schwerin and the next day damaged a Heinkel 111 over Lübeck. On the 2nd May, on a very early patrol, Woodman encountered five Bücker 131 Luftwaffe trainers near Schwerin - a somewhat odd type to meet in the combat area - and promptly shot one down and shared in a second. This was to be his last combat victory, the war ending four days later. 
 
Brian Woodman was awarded the DFC on the 24th July 1945. His citation included "Whilst attacking ground targets, many of which have been heavily defended, this warrant officer has destroyed or damaged at least 58 of the enemy’s mechanical transport vehicles. He has taken the fullest advantage of every opportunity to engage the enemy both in the air and on the ground and the results which he had achieved have been outstanding." At the time of his DFC being gazetted he was noted as being from French Pass (36 miles N.E. of Nelson).  
 
On his return to New Zealand, Woodman served as Chairman of Federated Farmers, sometime prior to 1956. He was also a member of the Road Board at French Pass.  
 
Brian Woodman died at Christchurch on 19 December 1975.