LEST WE FORGET
Sergeant John Groves HODGES
Service No: 407967
Born: Hawthorn VIC, 18 February 1922
Enlisted in the RAAF: 27 February 1941 (at Adelaide SA)
Unit: No. 8 Service Flying Training School (No. 71 Squadron), Bundaberg QLD
Died: Aircraft Accident (No. 8 Service Flying Training School Anson aircraft W1608), Biggenden QLD, 5 June 1942, Aged 20 Years
Buried: Bundaberg General Cemetery, QLD
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Gilbert John and Florence Anne Hodges, of Camberwell, Victoria. Presbyterian Plot
Roll of Honour: Port Augusta SA
Remembered: Panel 116, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Remembered: World War II Honour Roll, National War Memorial of SA, North Terrace, Adelaide
At 2020 hours on 5 June 1942, Avro Anson W1608, short of fuel and lost due to darkness and bad weather, attempted a forced landing near Biggenden, Queensland. The aircraft crashed and all three crew members were killed. The crew members were:
Sergeant Tom Barnett Clark (416556) (Wireless Air Gunner)
Sergeant John Groves Hodges (407967) (Pilot)
Sergeant Stephen Leigh Kilpatrick (408813) (Observer)
References:
Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour On-Line Records
Commonwealth War Graves Commission On-Line Records
Department of Veteran’s Affairs On-Line WWII Nominal Roll
National Archives of Australia On-Line Record A705, 163/123/264