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Pilot Officer William HODSON (185072) of the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve

Wireless Op./Air Gunner

Circumstances of Death: Lost in aircraft Mitchell II FW146
 Forum Post

Death of Death 1944-11-19

Served in 226 Sqdn

Burial/Commemoration Details : Joint grave 20. A. 8-9. at Jonkerbos War Cemetery, Netherlands (Map)

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London Gazette Mentions

Number	Name /Text	London Gazette Details
185072	Wt Offs 1065753 William HODSON	London Gazette supplement : 36780 , Dated 1944-11-03 , Download #36780

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Aircraft Accident / Loss Entry

Date: 19 Nov 44 Aircraft: Mitchell ll FW146 Unit 226 Sqdn Airfield /Crash Location , Limburg
Details
Source	Henk Welting's Database
Aircrew details

Recorded in CWGCMitchell FW146Via the internet I have obtained the following: Mitchell FW146 was reported missing during an operational mission on 19th February 1944. Immediately after bombing, the starboard wing was seen to receive a direct hit from flak just outboard of the engine. The aircraft broke away from the formation, turned upside down and was last seen going down in an uncontrollable dive from a height of about 6000 feet. Five of the crew were killed and WO Cote returned safe to the UK. Crew: RAF Sqn Ldr Campbell,G DFC Captain (Pilot) RAF FO Farquhar D G, DFC (Navigator) RAF FO Halliday J L (Navigator) RAF FO Hodson, (Wireless Air Gunner) RAAF 421929 PO Osmond, W E (Wireless Air Gunner) RAF WO J F Cote, (Air Gunner) Shores and Thomas (Second Tactical Air Force, Vol.2) give the date as 19 November 1944 and give the cause of loss as "shot down by fighter." My own sources identify Cote as RCAF, confirm the date as 19 November 1944 but state the cause of loss as flak. My account states: "On 19 November 1944, while approaching the Venlo bridge at 15,000 feet, his aircraft took a direct flak hit which killed his three comrades and cut the fuselage in two. The after portion, with turret and Coté, plunged several thousand feet before it ceased spinning and settled into a prolonged flutter, rather like a leaf. The tail landed in an orchard and he staggered out, wounded but alive. He ended up a prisoner of war." I note that my source for the above is an article by L.F. Gray, “How Lucky Can You Get ?”, Sentinel Magazine, November-December 1967. Clearly I am wrong about the number of persons in the aircraft - but why would a Mitchell have a crew of six on this occasion ? And can the issue of cause - flak or fighters - be resolved ? I could order the relevant ORB pages, but somebody else may already have visited this matter/ ....Read More.HughAHalliday on 3rd December 2012 11:09:48

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