Father: Sir John Francis Bodinnar J.P., The Old Palace, Chippenham, Wilts [Sir John Francis Bodinnar (1880-1958) was a Company Director (of, among others, the West of England Bacon Company, Ltd) and Mayor of Calne from 1925-27. "On the site of the Old Palace stood the house in which King Alfred is traditionally said to have burnt the cakes."
The Old Palace was bought by the Town Council in 1942 for new offices; it is now the Chippenham Museum.] Mother: Mabel Frost [Latham]. [d. 1948) Ed. Malvern College prev. "various, including fruit growing and engineering" - spent 1926-35 in Canada. Address in 1940: 5 Alexandra Court, Wembley Pk, Middx m. 1937 in Kensington, London, Sheila Frances Grace [George, d. 1979] Next of kin: (wife) Sheila, c/o "Branksome", Old Woking Rd, Pyrford, Surrey Postings: 1FPP Suspended for 2 days in Dec 1940 for infringement of flying regulations 2 accidents, 1 his fault: - 6 Feb 1941, he hit a concrete block whilst taxying a Leopard Moth, having to avoid an approaching Hart
d. 3 Apr 1941 (age 35) (Died in ATA Service) - Hurricane Z3166 flew into a ploughed field at Gorse Lane, Tarleton, Lancs, in poor visibility. He was held to blame for the accident, having persevered too long in bad weather. Douglas Fairweather was flying in the same area on the same day, and confirmed that the weather was so bad he had to curtail his own flight. He had flown 98 hrs in delivering 105 aircraft for the ATA. Buried in Maidenhead Cemetery, Sec. D. Row L. Grave 7
Sheila wrote to Gerard d'Erlanger: "May I send you my very sincere thanks for your flowers and sympathetic letter on the occasion of my husband's death. Your kind remarks made me feel very proud of him and I am sure he would not have wished for higher commendation." Download ATA Pilot Personal Record (.zip file): |
