Max J. Woolley

Foil: 6 Panel: Distinguished Flying Cross Society Column: 1 Line: 20

Wall of Honor Level:
Air and Space Friend

Honored by:

Max J. Woolley, born 19 Dec. 1916 in Ryegate, Montana. Entered military service 8 May 1942. Attended Santa Ana, Oxnard, Lemoore, CA & Williams Field, AZ Flight Schools. Commission & rated pilot 28 July 1943. Assigned to 384th FS, 364th Fighter Group, Eighth AF, and ETO as P-38 fighter pilot... Tactical training at Murac (Edwards), Van Nuys, Ontario, CA.
Awards include DFC, Air Medal w/3 OLCs, Purple Heart, and Distinguished Unit Citation. Qualified for Caterpillar Pin, 15 Dec.1943 & 27 June 1944. (Life saving use of parachute from a disabled aircraft.) Winged Boat Emblem. On 45th combat mission 27 June 1944 over enemy held territory his P-38 was hit by German anti-aircraft fire at 21,000 feet. Parachuting from a badly disabled aircraft resulted in Missing In Action until 13 Sep. 1944. He avoided enemy capture with Belgian Underground aid qualifying for the Winged Boot. Emblem. This emblem denotes those flight personnel whose unfortunate event placed them behind enemy lines, were able to avoid capture & eventually walk to freedom.
Discharged from, active duty 19 Aug. 1946. His brothers also served their country: Robert in. the Pacific. Theater with the 25th Infantry Division & Clarence in the U. S. Navy.
Married Blanche Brown. 5 Dec 1944. One son, Max Jay. BA degree Chapman University, PBA Chounard Art Institute Los Angeles, CA. Paintings hang in numerous museums.