The Airmen's Stories - Sgt. C G Hodson

Claude Gordon Hodson, from Southern Rhodesia, joined the RAFVR about July 1939 as an Airman u/t Pilot. Called up on 1st September, he completed his training at 10 FTS Tern Hill and arrived at 6 OTU on 17th August 1940.

After converting to Hurricanes, Hodson joined 1 Squadron at Wittering in mid-September. He moved on to 229 Squadron at Northolt later in the month and on the 30th he made a forced-landing in Hurricane V7411, possibly after being damaged in combat.

P/O V Ortmans, Sgt. J Arbuthnot, R Berry (not BoB) F/Lt. JB Holderness, F/Lt. JFF Finniss

Sgt. FJ Twitchett, Sgt. GF Silvester, Sgt. CG Hodson

Hodson was posted to the Middle East in early 1941 and on 29th January flew to Malta and joined 261 Squadron. Hodson was one of nine pilots who arrived on that day and it is not clear whether he flew one of the six Hurricanes or flew as a passenger in one of the two navigating Wellingtons.

When 261 was disbanded in May Hodson went to the newly-formed 185 Squadron.

Commissioned in December 1941, Hodson served later with 242 Squadron in North Africa. He transferred to the Southern Rhodesian Air Force on 26th August 1945.