Michael "Bodd" Boddington "Bodd" 1941, RAF Ibsley - Frank Howell took the photo   RAF   S/L DFC,   DFM Michael Christopher Bindloss "Bodd" Boddington From Hawkshead Lancashire Joined the RAFVR in December 1936 Called up to the RAF September 1st 1939 At the end of October he was transferred to the new 234 Sq. Spent 3 weeks at 5 OTU, Aston Down, in May 1940 Posted then to 249 Squadron for only a couple weeks Posted back to 234 Squadron for the Battle of Britain Got his DFM 7 commission in October 1940 Posted to 118 Squadron as a flight commander in Feb. 1941 His tour ended in September 1941 & he was sent to Group HQ Falling ill he spent 2 months in hospital He then joined 286 Sq., an AA co-op squadron, until Sept '42 He then led 19 Squadron until November 1942 Posted to 81 Group HQ, Stroud, until March at which time Posted to the Mediterranean & given command of 242 Sq. He led 242 for the invasion of Sicily & Italy 242 was disbanded in Nov. 1944, his operational flying over He later immigrated to New Guinea where he died in 1977

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"My father, Michael C B Boddington joined ... the RAF on September 1st 1939: he was discharged on February 12th 1946. A total of 2,679 days. Of course, he was not active throughout this time, but he saw a great deal of action, including the Battle of Britain which lasted from 10th July to 31st October 1940, during which time he was in action pretty well every day. From May 1943 until November 1944 he was in the Mediterranean theatre, North Africa, Malta, Italy and then on the drive up through France. A lot of combat.
In a list of Aces of WWII, he comes at number 128, based on the number of enemy aircraft confirmed destroyed. On 26th November 1940, he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Medal (DFM) and the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) on 10th November 1943.

So he was a hero, too, and it was always important for me, as a child, youth and young man, to believe in that. I guess it was as much because my Dad’s life went slowly south after the War. I once, to my eternal shame, told him to his face that the best time of his life was the War, in the sense that it was the time that he was successful. He came back with a pot of money – and that is another story which brings him into close association with Milo Minderbinder – and it rapidly trickled through his fingers until he was left with nothing and the cancer that took him away in 1977 was a blessed relief."

excerpt from Mike's work -
"War Heroes - Thoughts on James Bradley’s Flags of Our Fathers"

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THIRD SUPPLEMENT TO The London Gazette Of TUESDAY, the 7th of SEPTEMBER, 1943
Published by Authority, FRIDAY, 10 SEPTEMBER, 1943

The KING has been graciously pleased to approve the following awards in recognition of gallantry displayed in flying operations against the enemy:

Distinguished Flying Cross

Acting Squadron Leader Michael Christopher Bindloss BODDINGTON, D.F.M. (88017),
Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, No. 242 Squadron

In operations against Sicily, this officer led his squadron with great skill contributing materially to the successes obtained. Within the first three days of the invasion of the island, Squadron Leader Boddington shot down three and shared in the destruction of another enemy aircraft. This officer, who has displayed fine fighting qualities, has destroyed 12 hostile aircraft.

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Mike sings 'On Ilkley Moor baht 'at'. The result of a "well-oiled" bash somewhere in the MTO. Note his wings have fallen off his tunic

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Victories Include :

10.5 / 1 / 3.5

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Thanks go out to

son Mike for the photos & infos !

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