1939-45 Star; Air Crew Europe Star; Africa Star clasp North Africa 1942-43; War Medal 1939-45 - unnamed as awarded in wooden frame with Casualty Scroll.
John Charles Hodges was born in Hockerill, Hertfordshire in 1922. He was commissioned into the RAF at the age of 19 in 1941 and served as a Pilot Officer with 225 Squadron, flying Hurricanes in North Africa in the aerial battle against the Luftwaffe who, initially until January 1943, had air superiority.
Having flown a number of operational sorties and returning unscathed, Hodges, tragically, was killed when his Hurricane HL963 crashed on take off at Souk-el-Abar on Saturday, 5 December 1942. He had flown an earlier sortie that day and had returned reporting to have seen Transports and Submarines in Tunis Harbour. The Operations Record Book for 225 Squadron recording that he had "carried out a pretty successful reconnaissance." He is buried in the Medjez-Bab War Cemetery and his parents, touchingly, provided this epitaph:
"We dreamed great things of you. God intervened and so the dreams came true."
He was living with his parents at 6 Manor Road, Bishop Stortford when he enlisted.
Medals are in good condition unless otherwise indicated. Sold with copied research.
