Bodaly, Stanley Herbert

Date of birth:: February 25th, 1924
Date of death:: April 28th, 2006
Service number:: J.88329
Nationality:: Canadian

Biography

Stanley H. Bodaly signed up in London, Ontario on October 9th, 1942 and was sent to Toronto and then onto Quebec before sailing out of Halifax, Nova Scotia on the Queen Elisabeth I on September 13th, 1943. He arrived in Gourroch, Scotland on September 19th, 1943. He the was trained in Kinloss Scotland, Driffield, Dishford and Croft England until April 15th 1944 when he joined W/O Jack Mitchell's crew (replacing a tail gunner killed in action) until July 9th 1944. F/O Bodaly did 19 ops (trips) with them. The Mitchell crew was screened and F/O Bodaly joined P/O Hamilton McVeigh's crew (replacing a mid-upper gunner killed in action). Bodaly flew with McVeigh from July 9th, 1944 until September 15th, 1944 (15 ops) when McVeigh and crew were screened. F/O Bodaly flew his last 2 ops (total 36 ops) with A. Heathcote replacing Free (he must of been sick because the crew always got their leave together) from September 15th, 1944 until September 25th, 1944. Bodaly was in Skipton-On-Swale, England until October 23rd, 1944 when he ended his tour. Bodaly was screened on November 6th, 1944 and then sailed from Liverpool England on November 18th, 1944 on the 'Louis Pasteur' (a French Ship) to New York City USA, landing on November 25th, 1944. Bodaly then took the train home to London, Ontario. Bodaly was discharged on February 27th, 1945. Throughout all of his ops, PO Bodaly flew in Halifax MK III planes.

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Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC)

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Pilot Officer
Unit:: No. 433 (Porcupine) Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force
Awarded on:: January 19th, 1945

Citation:
"This officer has now completed his tour of operations comprising of thirty-six trips over enemy territory and involving a wide variety of well defended targets in Germany and France.

Throughout his tour Pilot Officer Bodaly has displayed outstanding fortitude and skill and his splendid example of cheerful courage, co-operation and devotion to duty has been an inspiration not only to his fellow gunners, but to the squadron in general. This officer has flown with many crews throughout his tour and I consider his fine offensive spirit and splendid record of achievement fully merits the award of the Distinguished Flying Cross (Non-Immediate)."

LG 36899/472.