Hodson, Alfred Arthur Henry
Personal Information
Rank | Sgt |
Forename(s) | Alfred Arthur Henry |
Surname | Hodson |
Gender | M |
Age | 21 |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 04-05-1944 |
Next of Kin | Son of Albert Edward and Caroline Hodson, of Stafford. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Avro Lancaster III |
Serial Number | ME703 |
Markings |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | United Kingdom |
Burial/Memorial Place | Stafford Cemetery |
Grave Reference | Plot G. New portion. Grave 11. |
Epitaph | SLEEP ON, VALIANT HEART YOUR DUTY WAS MOST NOBLY DONE |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 183 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | 1819663 |
Service | Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve |
Group | 1 |
Squadron | 576 |
Trade | Air Gunner |
Country of Origin | United Kingdom |
Other Memorials
Location | All Saints Church, Elsham, Lincolnshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Stone Tablet |
Memorial Text | Dedicated to all who served at RAF Elsham Wolds on 103 7 576 Squadrons 1941-45 |
Location | Water Treatment Works, Elsham Wolds, Lincolnshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Stone Memo and Propeller Sculpture |
Memorial Text | In memory of those who served at R.A.F. Elsham Words 1941 - 1945 |
Location | All Saints Church, Elsham, Lincolnshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Stone Tablet |
Memorial Text | In memory of the Airmen of 576 Sqn who gave their lives in 1939 - 45 War |
Miscellaneous Information
For their courage during that night each of the 5 received gallantry awards. P/O Reed (Pilot) was awarded the DSO, F/O Murphy and F/O Hallows (Wop and Navigator) each received the DFC and F/S Saruk and Sgt Taylor each received the DFM (Air Bomber and Flight Engineer). |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 03-05-1944 |
End Date | 04-05-1944 |
Takeoff Station | Elsham Wolds |
Day/Night Raid | Night (83% moon) |
Operation | Mailly-le-Camp panzer tank depot |
Reason for Loss | Twice attacked by Ju 88 night-fighters. The first time was before reaching the target. The aircraft sustained significant damage and was rendered very difficult to control. It took the combined efforts of the pilot and the flight engineer to operate the control column while the air bomber assisted with the rudder pedals. Most of the aircraft's systems had been rendered inoperative in the attack, including the intercom, electrical and hydraulic systems. A fire broke out in the rear of the fuselage which is thought to have forced the mid-upper gunner to bale out. Sgt Hodson was killed as a result of the damage to the rear gun turret. Despite the damage, the crew decided to complete their mission but they had become so far off the aiming point due to evasive action that they had to go around again. Soon after they had dropped their bomb load on the target markers they came under sustained attack from another Ju 88, inflicting further damage. The flight engineer succeeded in putting out the fire in the fuselage and the wireless operator fixed his set, allowing distress calls to be issues. By the time they had regained the English coastline, the pilot had got the measure of how to control the aircraft so decided to push on to Elsham Wolds where he made a crash-landing. The starboard undercarriage collapsed and the bomber swung off the runway. Miraculously they came safely to a halt and there were no further injuries. |