Hodges, Edwin Jack
Personal Information
Rank | F/S |
Forename(s) | Edwin Jack |
Surname | Hodges |
Gender | M |
Date of Death | 02-05-1944 |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Avro Lancaster |
Serial Number | LM481 |
Markings | QR-O O-Orange |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | United Kingdom |
Burial/Memorial Place | Branksome (St. Clement) Churchyard, Poole |
Grave Reference | West of church. |
Epitaph |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 1 |
Panel Number | 50 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | 1321993 |
Service | Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve |
Group | 5 |
Squadron | 61 |
Squadron Motto | Per puram tonantes (Thundering through the clear air) |
Trade | Air Bomber |
Country of Origin | United Kingdom |
Other Memorials
Location | Birchwood Way, Birchwood Estate, Lincoln, Lincolnshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Brick Memorial & Inscribed Marble Obolisk |
Memorial Text | To the memory of the Air Crews and Ground Staff who gave their lives whilst serving with No 50 Squadron and No 61 Squadron, 5 group, Bomber Command The Royal Air Force 2nd World War 1939 to 1945. No 50 Squadron "From defence to attack" Operated from Waddi |
Location | Memorial Gardens, Skellingthorpe, Lincolnshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Brick Memorial with Inscribed Marble Stone |
Memorial Text | Royal Air Force Skellingthorpe. My brief sweet life is over, My eyes no longer see, No Christmas Trees, No summer walks, No pretty girls for me, I've got the chop - I've had it, My nightly ops are done, Yet in another 100 years I'll still be twenty one. R |
Miscellaneous Information
The aircraft is mysteriously missing from the Operations Record Book. The exact crew is therefore uncertain but may well have been the same as flew the aircraft of 20th/21st April on La Chapelle Marshelling Yards. |
This aircraft was subject to another loss on board when the rear turret was torn from the fuselage on 25th July 1944, carrying the rear gunner, F/S C J Foy away with it. Once again, the aircraft made a safe return to base. |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/579/10 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/579/9 |
Fellow Servicemen
Please note that this list gives all the losses aboard the quoted aircraft and occasionally these may have occurred on an earlier date when the aircraft was not itself lost. Please check the dates of death carefully.
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 01-05-1944 |
End Date | 02-05-1944 |
Takeoff Station | Skellingthorpe |
Day/Night Raid | Night (66% moon) |
Operation | SNCA aircraft assembly plant at St. Martin du Touche, Toulouse |
Reason for Loss | Aircraft badly damaged by flak after boming the target, killing the air bomber and injuring the flight engineer (possibly Sgt J Palin). The aircraft landed at RAF Tangmere on the south coast and was declared 'Cat AC' meaning that it was repairable, but not at station. It returned to service with 61 Sqn and was next used on an operational sortie on 3rd/4th June with some of the same crew. |