102 (Ceylon) Squadron

Tentate et perficite (Attempt and Achieve)

Pilot Officer John Hodgson

John Hodgson - March/April 1945  - 102 Ceylon Squadron
John Hodgson - 102 Squadron - March/April 1945

John Hodgson was born on 7th July 1918 on Sillinghurst Farm, Birtle, Bury, son of Thomas and Minnie Hodgson.

He had two older sisters, Jessie and Marjorie and attended Birtle School , leaving at age 11 and winning the County Scholarship to Bury Municipal Secondary School.
After leaving school at 16 he started work as a Junior Clerk in the Cashiers Office at Walmsleys Paper Making Engineers in Bury – the largest company in the district, supplying paper making machinery worldwide.

He was conscripted into the militia just prior to the outbreak of war in 1939. His first active service abroad was in France in the Army as a Despatch Rider. He then saw action on the beach at Dunkirk where he remained for a week.

John then realised he had the necessary qualifications to become a pilot and so requested a transfer into the RAF and trained as a pilot in Georgia, America.

He started learning to fly in September 1941 in Georgia.

John Hodgson - March/April 1945  - 102 Ceylon Squadron
John Hodgson - 102 Squadron - March/April 1945



He returned to England to fly many successful raids over Germany as a Halifax Bomber pilot.
John continued his RAF service for some time after the end of the war in 1945 and eventually becoming a Flying Instructor himself.

Flying History No 6 EFTS Sywell – commenced 2.2.44 completed 6.4.44
No 15 P.A.F.U. – commenced 28.4.44 completed 22.5.44
No 1 Beam Approach School Watchfield - date commenced 25.5.44 completed 28.5.44
No 10 O.T.U. Abingdon commenced 24.7.44 completed 15.9.44
No 1652 conversion unit Marston Moor – commenced 29.11.44 completed 17.1.45 102 Ceylon Squadron Pocklington - 1 March 1945 – Flying Ops



John's crew listed below.

John Hodgson - March/April 1945  - 102 Ceylon Squadron
John Hodgson (Pilot), Sgt M. Horncastle (BA), Sgt L. White (Nav) Sat Down: Sgt M Munyard (WOp), Sgt W Alliston (Rear AG), Sgt E. Manley (M.U.G.), Sgt A. Pollock (FE) - 102 Squadron - March/April 1945
John Hodgson - March/April 1945  - 102 Ceylon Squadron
John Hodgson - 102 Squadron - March/April 1945


John Hodgson (Pilot), Sgt M. Horncastle (BA), Sgt L. White (Nav)

Sat Down: Sgt M Munyard (WOp), Sgt W Alliston (Rear AG), Sgt E. Manley (M.U.G.), Sgt A. Pollock (FE)

 

 

 

 

 

John Hodgson - March/April 1945  - 102 Ceylon Squadron
- 102 Squadron - March/April 1945

B Flight - Pocklingtoon 102 Ceylon Squadron March / April 1945

John Hodgson - March/April 1945  - 102 Ceylon Squadron
John Hodgson - 102 Squadron - March/April 1945

On the back of the photo we have to following names: (We understand that we have names missing... can you help???

Standing: F/O A.F. Bannatyne - F/O A. Maxie McVicar (Aus) - P/O John Hodgson - Beckett - F/O Bill Petersen (NZ) - Ian Adams (NZ) - ??? - ???

Sat Down: F/L George Henry Griggs - ??? - ??? - S/L A.R. Middleton - Fowler - F/O John Garratt Withington

NOTE: We have been able to add to some of the names on the card already..

 

 

 

John Hodgson - March/April 1945  - 102 Ceylon Squadron
John Hodgson With his crew on exercise at Marston Moor - Nov 1944 - 102 Squadron

John Hodgson With his crew on exercise at Marston Moor - Nov 1944

 

John Hodgson - March/April 1945  - 102 Ceylon Squadron
John Hodgson With his crew - March April 1945 - 102 Squadron

John Hodgson With his crew - 102 Squadron

 

John Hodgson - March/April 1945  - 102 Ceylon Squadron
John Hodgson With his crew - 102 Squadron

John Hodgson with we believe other pilots from around the beginning of 1945???? -

Can you name any of the people in this photo - is so please email me - Chris Harper

 

John Hodgson - March/April 1945  - 102 Ceylon Squadron
John Hodgson With his crew - 102 Squadron

John Hodgson With his crew and Aircrew man 'Lofty', who was their Mechanic/Fitter - 102 Squadron

 

From John's Log Book and from clippings and details he wrote at the time we have :


11 March 1945 – DY-C - PP203 - Self - 6 crew - ops Essen

12 March 1945 - DY-C - PP203 - Self - 6 crew - ops Dortmund

13 March 1945 – DY-C - PP203 - Self - 6 crew - ops Barmen

15 March 1945 – DY-F PP186 - Self 6 crew - ops Bottrop Oil Storage Depot

18 March 1945 – DY-J RG485 - Self - 6 crew - ops Witten

John Hodgson - March/April 1945  - 102 Ceylon Squadron
John Hodgson - 102 Squadron - March/April 1945
John Hodgson - March/April 1945  - 102 Ceylon Squadron
John Hodgson - 102 Squadron - March/April 1945

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

22 March 1945 – DY-M RG505 - Self - 6 crew - ops Dulmen

24 March 1945 – DY-J RG485 - Self - 6 crew - ops Sterkrade

4th April 1945 – DY-O - RG503 - Self - 6 crew - ops Harburg Oil Refinery This plane would be ditched on the 10/05/45

 

John Hodgson - March/April 1945  - 102 Ceylon Squadron
John Hodgson - 102 Squadron - March/April 1945
John Hodgson - March/April 1945  - 102 Ceylon Squadron
John Hodgson - 102 Squadron - March/April 1945
John Hodgson - March/April 1945  - 102 Ceylon Squadron
John Hodgson - 102 Squadron - March/April 1945
John Hodgson - March/April 1945  - 102 Ceylon Squadron
John Hodgson - 102 Squadron - March/April 1945

 

9 April 1945 – DY-C - PP203 - Self - 6 crew - ops Mining Flensburg Fiord

John Hodgson - March/April 1945  - 102 Ceylon Squadron
John Hodgson - 102 Squadron - March/April 1945
John Hodgson - March/April 1945  - 102 Ceylon Squadron
John Hodgson - 102 Squadron - March/April 1945


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

11 April 1945 – PP177 - Self - 6 crew - ops Nuremberg

John Hodgson - March/April 1945  - 102 Ceylon Squadron
John Hodgson - 102 Squadron - March/April 1945
John Hodgson - March/April 1945  - 102 Ceylon Squadron
John Hodgson - 102 Squadron - March/April 1945


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

18 April 1945 – DY-C - PP203 - Self - 6 crew - ops Heligoland


John Hodgson - March/April 1945  - 102 Ceylon Squadron
John Hodgson - 102 Squadron - March/April 1945
John Hodgson - March/April 1945  - 102 Ceylon Squadron
John Hodgson - 102 Squadron - March/April 1945

 

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