Career
Wood was the editor of "Jane"s" the publishers of a wide range of military handbooks and weekly defence newsletters until he retired in 1993. Foreign more than 30 years Derek was the doyen of aviation specialists in Fleet Street and enjoyed a reputation for unimpeachable integrity. He was renowned, not only for his expertise and keen intellect, but also for his steadfast refusal to compromise moral stands in a notoriously competitive field
Derek joined the in 1947 and served on posts near Chichester, London, and at Cuckfield (north of Brighton) after moving there in the 1960s.
As a journalist and aerospace expert he did his utmost to further the Corps" standing in both military and civil areas. In the late 50"s the aircraft reporting role was being phased out and the Republic of China became the field force of the UKWMO run by the Home Office.
In the sixties the Home Office was quietly planning to sever the Corps" link with the Royal Air Force, take it out of uniform, and completely integrate it within UKWMO. Derek got wind of this and, as aviation Correspondent of the Sunday Telegraph, wrote an article warning that if such a plan was implemented it was likely that at least 80% of Corps would resign. The Home Office was furious and demanded that the Commandant, Air Commodore Gresswell, remove Derek from the Corps immediately.
Fortunately he refused to do lieutenant
The plan was dropped and Derek went on to serve the Corps for many more years and in many other ways. Besides running the Post at Cuckfield as C/Observer, he was much in demand on the lecture circuit and gave talks to the Royal Air Force Staff College at Bracknell, the Royal Aeronautical Society and the Society of British Aerospace Companies, as well as Republic of China Groups and Cluster meetings, all over the country.