Major Aubrey E Pickwoad DFC

Aubrey Earle Pickwoad was born on 7 July 1920. On the outbreak of war he was commissioned into the Devonshire Regiment, but on 29 June 1942 he volunteered for a transfer to The Glider Pilot Regiment. Lt Pickwoad took part in the landings in Normandy and was awarded a Distinguished Flying Cross for his actions. The recommendation for the award notes: "At 22:00 hrs 5th June 1944 (D-1) Lt Pickwoad took off on tow with 5 other gliders from Blakehill Farm Aerodrome loaded with engineer stores and personnel for the purpose of blowing certain bridges at or near Trowen east of Caen, parachutsists were to have cleared a landing zone near Trouffreville (10 miles inland), and to have laid out landing lights. On crossing the French coast the gliders flew into cloud necessitating instrument flying to keep in the proper position. On coming out of the cloud cover only one set of lights were visible belonging to another landing strip. All pilots, except Lt Pickwoad and S/Sgt Banks flying another Glider, mistook this for the landing zone. The proper landing zone had not been prepared and there were no lights and no direct moonlight, however, Lt Pickwoad identified it, pulled off and made a successful landing in spite of the poles set up to prevent landing. He successfully unloaded the glider while paratroopers were engaging the enemy some 200 yards away. Thanks to Lt Pickwoad’s calmness,efficiency and courage in making this very difficult landing the bridges were blown and the operation was a complete success." Returning to the UK after the operation, Lt Pickwoads next landing was at Arnhem on 17th Sept 1944, where again his actions are highlighted in an associated War Diary. In December 1944, Lt Pickwoad was posted to India where he undertook Parachute training and postwar was posted to Palestine in 1946, marrying his wife, Margaret Jackson, during a period of leave in Oct 1946, before returning to the UK in 1947 where he was promoted to Captain. Further service during the Korean War saw Capt Pickwoad being wounded before being promoted to Major in 1954 and then having a period of service in Kenya upto 1956. Aubrey Pickwoad died in January 1993.