WOODLEY, Michael Antony Furse


2600022, Flight Lieutenant (Pilot), Michael Antony Furse WOODLEY
Aged 24
264 Squadron, Royal Air Force
Died in air accident on Thursday, 18th October 1951



Michael Antony Furse WOODLEY was born on 14th April 1927 (Aberystwyth Q2-1927 11B:66) son of Joseph Furse and Dorothy Evelyn WOODLEY (née LOVE).

In the 1939 register shows his parents at 8 Bucklesham Road, Ipswich, father Joseph F [26-3-1884] a commercial traveller (biscuits), mother Dorothy E [4-6-1895]. There is one closed record (presumably Michael and no one has cross referenced his death).

He was educated at Culford School (1941-1944) and Jesus College, Oxford (1944-1947).


Gaining a National Service Commission to Pilot Officer w.e.f 6th November 1947, on 29th September 1949 he gained his aviators certificate from the Royal Aeronautical Club. He was gazetted for a permanent commission and promotion to Flying Officer on 26th September 1950.

264 (Madras Presidency) Squadron were equipped with de Havilland Mosquito. On 18th October Mosquito NF Mk 36, ser.no.RL230, piloted by F/Lt WOODLEY took off on a training flight from RAF Linton on Ouse, North Yorkshire. His navigator was 4036278 Flying Officer Alan John Priestley HART. They were practising night interceptions and lost control in the slip stream of the target aircraft and dived into the ground at Crabtree Farm, Maunby (near Pickhill) Yorkshire. The aircraft was destroyed and both airmen killed.

Certainly up to 2014, the site was being preserved by the farm's owner.

Thanks to his niece Val we do have his photograph and more information. He was killed just 9 days before he was due to marry. Val informs me that Michael was cremated on 25th October 1951 in Kent County Crematorium, Charing.




Mosquito of 264 Sqdn..pronounced nose cone for radar



Michael was cremated at Charing, in Kent.

click here to go to the Veterans UK website for full cemetery/memorial details
The CWGC warrant only covers the two world wars


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