Hodges entered the US Army at age 17 and at age 19 was commanding a B-17 crew. He flew 35 combat missions with the 490th Bomb Group, during which he was shot down 4 times. On three occasions he made his own way back to England with little problem, but on the fourth he went down behind German lines. He and his crew split up and they evaded with the support of the French and Belgian underground forces and returned to duty.



Hodges was later reassigned to the 653th Bomb Sqaudron, 25th Bomb Group, and in spite of crashing two Mosquitos 22 days apart he completed 20 missions in them.



After a 26-year career he retired from the USAF as a Lt Col. He went into business for himself making aluminium pick-up truck caps.