The Airmen's Stories - Sgt. C W Dodge

Charles William Dodge was born on 1st July 1908 in West Ham, London and joined the RAF in 1927 as an Aircrafthand. At some time he remustered as an Airman u/t Air Gunner and completed his training.

At the outbreak of war he was serving with 64 Squadron, operating Blenheims.

The squadron was re-equipped with Spitfires in April 1940 and 64's gunners were posted away. Dodge and some others went to 219 Squadron.

Dodge served with the squadron during the Battle of Britain. With the advent of airborne radar and the Beaufighter replacing the Blenheim, Dodge was one of the gunners who retrained as Radar Operators.

In the evening of 13th March 1941 he was on patrol in a Beaufighter with Sgt. JA Clandillon. They shot down a He111 that was raiding Southampton. It crashed at Smokehall Farm, Shipley, Sussex.

On 11th March 1942 Dodge was promoted to Warrant Officer.

In 1942 he was an instructor at the night-fighter OTU at Cranfield.

Dodge was released from the RAF in 1945.

He died in March 1986 in Barking.