- RAF Bodney during the Second World War -
Airfields Index
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RAF Bodney
RAF Bodney opened as a Bomber Command satellite to Watton and was home to 21, 82, 90 and 105 squadrons. 90 Squadron were the first RAF Squadron to fly the new Fortress Mk1s on operations.The base was transferred to 8th USAAF in May 1943, being home to the 352nd FG from July 1943 flying P-47D Thunderbolts. Later converting to P-51 Mustangs in April 1944. The 8th USAAF top scoring P-51 ace, Major George Preddy (27 victories) was based at Bodney until his death 25th December 44. The control tower was badly damaged by a mustang in a flying accident on D-Day and was later rebuilt. The Group left for the USA in November 1945 and the station closed.
Squadrons stationed at RAF Bodney
- No. 21 Squadron
- No. 82 Squadron. 1st Oct 1940 to 18 Apr 1941 & 3 May 1941 to 30 Jun 1942
- No. 90 Squadron
- No. 105 Squadron
- 352nd Fighter Group. July 1943 to Nov 1945
1st Apr 1940 82 Squadron Blenheim lost
8th June 1940 Shot down
11th June 1940 Three aircraft lost
14th June 1940 Captured at sea
13th August 1940 Squadron wiped out
1st October 1940 Relocated
29th Oct 1940 Patrols
10th Nov 1940 82 Squadron Blenheim lost
18th April 1941 Relocated
28th April 1941 Detachment
3rd May 1941 Prepared for overseas
21st May 1941 Move to Malta
18th June 1941 Squadron moved to Malta
18th Oct 1941 Ops Cancelled
5th Dec 1941 Aircraft Lost
27th Dec 1941 Aircraft Lost
14th March 1942 Disbanded and reformed
14th March 1942 Reorganisation
30th March 1942 Posting
1st Apr 1942 Posting
4th Apr 1942 Posting
8th Apr 1942 Posting
13th Apr 1942 Training
16th Apr 1942 Posting
28th Apr 1942 Exercise
29th Apr 1942 Exercise
30th Apr 1942 Ground Crews
27th Jan 1943 Ops
10th Apr 1943 103 Squadron Lancaster lostIf you can provide any additional information, please add it here.
Those known to have served at
RAF Bodney
during the Second World War 1939-1945.
The names on this list have been submitted by relatives, friends, neighbours and others who wish to remember them, if you have any names to add or any recollections or photos of those listed, please Add a Name to this List
The Wartime Memories Project is the original WW1 and WW2 commemoration website.
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Want to find out more about your relative's service? Want to know what life was like during the War? Our Library contains an ever growing number diary entries, personal letters and other documents, most transcribed into plain text.
Wanted: Digital copies of Group photographs, Scrapbooks, Autograph books, photo albums, newspaper clippings, letters, postcards and ephemera relating to WW2. We would like to obtain digital copies of any documents or photographs relating to WW2 you may have at home.If you have any unwanted photographs, documents or items from the First or Second World War, please do not destroy them. The Wartime Memories Project will give them a good home and ensure that they are used for educational purposes.
Please get in touch for the postal address, do not sent them to our PO Box as packages are not accepted. World War 1 One ww1 wwII second 1939 1945 battalion
Did you know? We also have a section on The Great War. and a Timecapsule to preserve stories from other conflicts for future generations.
These include information on officers, regimental histories, letters, diary entries, personal accounts and information about actions during the Second World War.
F/Sgt Stan Pascoe 82 Squadron
This is a photo of Pilot Officer Dennis Gibbs and myself, F/Sgt Stan Pascoe after we returned to Bodney airfield after the raid on power stations near Cologne in 1941. Losses were 12 aircraft out of 56. Our Observer, Laurie Cash died of wounds when we crash landed near Acklington, Northumberland. Dennis eventually became Administrator of the Island of Montserrat and passed away suffering a brain haemorrhage.I live in Australia just South of Brisbane in Queensland, and have just passed my 91st birthday. If anyone seeing this maybe remembers us, I would love to hear from them. A picture at the time may help my fading memory.
Stan Pascoe
Leroy F. Geary
My Dad, Roy Geary was stationed at Bodney in WW2. He was in the USAAF. He never discussed the war with his daughters, and we would love to know more. We are hitting deadends as far as getting info about what he did, If anyone could tell us how to get more information, it would be greatly appreciated. Thank You.June Yerdon
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