Wooly Apple Aphids are pretty much in every old orchard I manage and present no important problems after about 20 years of managing trees that harbor them. I would be inclined to investigate what makes your tree so susceptible to that kind of damage. It may be the growth on that tree is excessively soft and tender because of a nutritional imbalance including the possibility of excess nitrogen. Of course all the excess rain you probably got would contribute to rank growth. Nitrogen is the ingredient sucking insects are primarily after in the form of protein. Removing the branches was entirely unnecessary- why didn't you just wipe off the bugs if this is such a small tree? There are a few over-the-counter insecticides that would kill the bugs on the spot and even hort-oil will smother them, I believe (as I said I've never actually had to target this pest even as they thrive in my trees). The only time I would ever remove tissue as a treatment would be for an an infectious pathogen, usually fungus ocassionally bacteria (fireblight) or virus (on blackberries). I guess the one exception is aphid infestation in cherry leaves when they curl up. If it is a very young tree I might remove the leaves because I can't reach the aphids.

Yes, that's it, thanks! Glad I didn't get rid of them (when I'm not sure I always leave it alone)

We have had a lot of rain lately. I'm pretty sure there hasn't been any hail, though. We did have really strong winds the other day. I think these pictures were taken the day of the winds, though. Maybe before. It's the second year's growth.

I found a few of these on my tree today too Would love to see an answer!