Carl James Woods (1923 - 1944)

Born 11 Mar 1923 in Mars, Butler, Pennsylvania, United States

Ancestors

Died 7 Oct 1944 at age 21 in Italy

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Biography

Carl Woods is Notable.

Carl Woods is a Military Veteran.
Served in the United States Army Air Force 100th Fighter Squadron 1943-1944
Tuskegee Airman flying Ace

FO Carl Woods was Missing in Action during World War II.

Carl Woods was awarded the Purple Heart.

Carl Woods served as a US military pilot during World War II. He was one of the “Documented Original Tuskegee Airmen.” The Tuskegee Airmen were known for heroic combat service in support of Allied Forces in the European Theater. They served with the 332d Expeditionary Operations Group and the 477th Bombardment Group, both largely Black units of the United States Army Air Forces.

Carl James Woods was the youngest son born to Jesse Woods and Beatrice Saunders in 1923. ^[1]. His parents were employed by Joseph C. Trees, a self-made oil millionaire, and they lived in a house on the Trees property. His father was the Trees family's butler while his mother was housekeeper/cook. They were special servants to this family which is obvious as his parents traveled to the Trees vacation home with the family, in Florida in 1940.^[2] while the children remained in the home on the estate. ^[3]. In the meantime, Carl attended Mars Area High School in 1938 through 1941, where he was a member of the high school football team. He was the only African American in his class as well as on the football team. His mother was active in the community with the Harriet Tubman Guild.^[4]

Carl J. Woods was obviously a bright and hard working young man. His name is reported on the Roll of Honor at Penn State University. He worked at the Treesdale laboratories owned by Millionaire Joseph C. trees, which was located on 18 acres at Mars Road and Treesdale Ave, adjacent to Treesdale Farms. It originally dealt with photo products and film developing, but became an operation that fireproofed fabrics. ^[5]

Carl registered for the draft on the 30 Jun 1942.^[6]. He had completed two years of college at Penn State College when he enlisted at Keesler Field in Biloxi, Mississippi on the 25 Mar 1943, in the air corps. By December of that year, he had completed his primary flight training at the 66th Flying Training Detachment at Tuskegee and was advance to basic flight class. ^[7] By April of 1944, Carl had completed his training and received his commissions and wings.^[8]. Soon after graduation, he was deployed to Italy with the 100th Fighter Squadron, part of the 332nd Fighter Group.

On 7 October, 1944, FO Carl J. Woods departed Ramitelli Air field in Italy as part of an escort for the 5th Bombardment Wing on a bombing mission to an oil refinery in Vienna. He was last seen at 3:30 pm in an area near the Adriatic Sea. He and two other P-51 Mustang pilots disappeared that day on the mission. ^[9]

His name is memorialized on the Tablets of the Missing at Florence American Cemetery in Italy.^[10]. The date of death listed is his Finding of Death, a year and a day after his MIA date^[11].

Joseph C. Trees believed in giving back to his community, and every summer, he welcomed hundreds of boys from the crowded sections of the city of Pittsburgh to his Treesdale estate. ^[12] One of his favorite charities was the Boys' Club of Pittsburgh, where he was president for many years. ^[13]

A year after Carl was pronounced Killed in Action, the Pittsburgh papers show frequent listings of an estate notice: Estate of Carl J. Woods, deceased, of Pine Two. No 1083 of 1946,. Letters of administration on his estate were granted to the undersigned who requests all persons having claims or demands against the estate of dependent to make known the same and all persons indebted to decedent to make payment without delay to Beatrice J. Woods, Admx., Mars, PA. or to John E & Floyd V. Winner, Attys, Union Natil. Bk. Bldg., Pgh. PA. It can only be presumed that this bright young man must have left such an impression on the Trees family that he must have been the recipient of funds from the Trees family in order to have an estate in addition to the Veteran Compensation that was filed by his mother in 1950.

Sources

1. ↑ "United States Census, 1930," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XCHB-FJ9 : accessed 25 June 2020), Carl Woods in household of Jess L Woods, Pine, Allegheny, Pennsylvania, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 759, sheet 6B, line 83, family 128, NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 1969; FHL microfilm 2,341,703.
2. ↑ "United States Census, 1940," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VTHZ-MPB : 28 February 2020), Beatrice Woods, Miami Beach, Election Precinct 25, Dade, Florida, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 13-36B, sheet 62B, line 58, family , Sixteenth Census of the United States, 1940, NARA digital publication T627. Records of the Bureau of the Census, 1790 - 2007, RG 29. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2012, roll 580.
3. ↑ "United States Census, 1940," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KQ4L-H32 : 2 February 2020), Joseph Leo Woods, Pine Township, Allegheny, Pennsylvania, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 2-439, sheet 15A, line 32, family 279, Sixteenth Census of the United States, 1940, NARA digital publication T627. Records of the Bureau of the Census, 1790 - 2007, RG 29. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2012, roll 3414.
4. ↑ The Pittsburgh Courier 21 Jul 1934, pg 7. Tubmans Hold Successful MeetThe children's hospital has asked for a worker and Mrs. Beatrice Woods of Gibsonia, will represent the Guild there.
5. ↑ Pittsburgh Post Gazette, 15 May 1994, pg. 130 Oilman's Midas touch turned farmland into agricultural empire.
6. ↑ US WWII Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947
7. ↑ Pittsburgh Courier, 25 Dec 1943, pg. 12.Cadets Advance at Tuskegee: Tuskegee Army Air Field, Ala Several men from Pennsylvania have been moved up in their flight training here at the Tuskegee Army air field: Aviation Cadets Carl J. Woods of Mars, and Timothy Ivory of New Castle, recently completed their primary flight training at the 66th Flying training Detachment and have been advanced to the basic flight class. Aviation Cadets James W. Wright of Pittsburgh and Richard S. Armistead of Philadelphia, recently completed their pre-flight training and have been assigned to the primary flight class at the 66th Flying Training Detachment where they will begin actual flying.
8. ↑ Pittsburgh Courier, 22 Apr 1944, pg 2.And Still They Come....Latest Pilot Class: Youths Advance at Tuskegee Army Air Field: Tuskegee Army Air Field, Ala. Negro youth are fast learning the tricks of combat flying here where they receive their first instructions and later their commissions and wings. Men recently assigned to the advanced flight training are: Aviation Cadets Carl J. Wods, Mars, PA; Marion R. Rodgers, Elisabeth, NJ; Roger B. Gaither, Seasidetts, NJ; Samuel W. Rhodes, Leonia, Nj; John E. Mätts, Providence RI; Cornelius Gould, Pittsburgh, PA; Eugene C. Cheatham, New York City; J.L. Harrison, Omaha Neb; William L. Hill, Huntington, WVa,; Henry Pollard, Jr. Buffalo, NY; Harold L. Hillder, New York City; Joseph D. White, New York City; robert H. Daniels, Jr., Corona, NY; Samue Lynn, Jamaica NY, and Reuben J. Rutledge, Brooklyn, NY
9. ↑ MACR 9029; A/C 42-102954, pg 3.
10. ↑ https://www.abmc.gov/decedent-search/woods%3Dcarl-0
11. ↑ https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/56367495/carl-j-woods
12. ↑ The Pittsburgh Sun Telegraph, 10 Nov 1942, pg 20."Stop Grumbling Over the War," Joe Trees at 73, Tells Americans
13. ↑ The Pittsburgh Press, 20 Ma 1943, pg 9. Death of Joe C Trees Parts World-Famous Oil Partners