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Post by Marcus on May 2, 2007 10:02:52 GMT 12
Hi all
One of my year 11 history pupils mentioned to me a few days ago that her granddad flew fighters in the pacific. She is not sure what sort of fighter/s but says it starts with a āCā. She does not know aircraft so I am assuming it was Corsairs. When I asked her if he was ground crew, aircrew and if he flew with other people in the same aircraft (bombers)she was very adamant that he was a single seat fighter pilot.
All that I have to go on is his surname which is Boddy. She does not know his first name or initials.
How can I find out more about the war-time history of the gentleman in question?
This is purely to satisfy my own curiosity.
Thanx
Marcus
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Post by Dave Homewood on May 2, 2007 13:25:10 GMT 12
I guess the other option is it could have been a Kittyhawk and she thought that started with a C.
Other possibilities of course are Catalina, C-47, C-60 and C-63...
The first thing I'd do is ask her to get more details from her parents, like his name and if he's still alive.
There are lots of Boddies in the white pages, and even more with the spelling of Boddy. One may be him.
I've never come across the name in any books I have read.
If he is deceased and you can find a death notice, you can retrieve his service records from the Defence archives. If he's alive, only he can do this.
I think your first point of call is to talk to your student again, tell her you're interested and can she find out more.
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Post by Marcus on May 14, 2007 21:40:41 GMT 12
Hi Dave and the rest of the group.
Got some extra info on the pilot in question.
Flight Sergeant, Ernest Frank Boddy Service no: 4216522 flew Kittyhawks and the Corsairs with 17 Sqdn from Guadalcanal, Green island and Bougainville (1942 - 1945)
Marcus
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Post by Dave Homewood on May 14, 2007 21:59:59 GMT 12
Marcus, this is quite probably him Boddy E F 2/9 Rosier Rd Glen Eden Auckland 0-9-818 7306 From www.whitepages.co.nz Give him a call and see. Sounds like he'd be an interesting character, and if he was in 17 Squadron in 1944 he was probably in the Sqn at the same time as my mate Trevor pearce who's written his memoirs and you can find them on my website.
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Post by Dave Homewood on May 14, 2007 22:03:09 GMT 12
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