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Archive Report: Allied Forces

Compiled from official National Archive and Service sources, contemporary press reports, personal logbooks, diaries and correspondence, reference books, other sources, and interviews.
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403 Squadron Spitfire IX MK742 Fl/Lt. Hodgson, Herbecourt France

Operation: Ramrod 960.

Date: 2nd June 1944 (Friday)

Unit: 403 Squadron RCAF

Type: Spitfire IX

Serial: MK742

Code: KH - ?

Location: Herbecourt France

Pilot: Fl/Lt. John Hodgson J/5667 RCAF Age 22. Killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

One of two Spitfires lost on this Ramrod 960, Fl/Lt. Hodgson was tragically killed when his Spitfire IX MK742 suffered complete engine failure which may have been due to flak, crashing at Herbecourt near Amiens. 

The second aircraft lost on this mission Spitfire IX MJ229 411 Squadron RCAF, flown by Fl/Lt. R.W. Orr was hit by flak, but he was able to bale out over the Channel and was rescued.

BURIAL DETAILS:

Fl/Lt. John Hodgson. St. Pierre Cemetery, Amiens. Plot 7. Row D. Grave 13. Son of John and Susanna Hodgson, husband of Doreen Lydia Hodgson, of Southgate, Middlesex, England.

KTY -1.07.2015

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Acknowledgements
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Sources used by us in compiling Archive Reports include: Bill Chorley - 'Bomber Command Losses Vols. 1-9, plus ongoing revisions', Dr. Theo E.W. Boiten and Mr. Roderick J. Mackenzie - 'Nightfighter War Diaries Vols. 1 and 2', Martin Middlebrook and Chris Everitt - 'Bomber Command War Diaries', Commonwealth War Graves Commission, Tom Kracker - Kracker Luftwaffe Archives, Michel Beckers, Major Fred Paradie (RCAF) and Captain François Dutil (RCAF) - Paradie Archive (on this site), Jean Schadskaje, Major Jack O'Connor USAF (Retd.), Robert Gretzyngier, Wojtek Matusiak, Waldemar Wójcik and Józef Zieliński - 'Ku Czci Połeglyçh Lotnikow 1939-1945', Andrew Mielnik: Archiwum - Polish Air Force Archive (on this site), Anna Krzystek, Tadeusz Krzystek - 'Polskie Siły Powietrzne w Wielkiej Brytanii', Franek Grabowski, Polish graves: https://niebieskaeskadra.pl/, PoW Museum Żagań, Norman L.R. Franks 'Fighter Command Losses', Stan D. Bishop, John A. Hey MBE, Gerrie Franken and Maco Cillessen - Losses of the US 8th and 9th Air Forces, Vols 1-6, Dr. Theo E.W. Boiton - Nachtjagd Combat Archives, Vols 1-13. Aircrew Remembered Databases and our own archives. We are grateful for the support and encouragement of CWGC, UK Imperial War Museum, Australian War Memorial, Australian National Archives, New Zealand National Archives, UK National Archives and Fold3 and countless dedicated friends and researchers across the world.
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