James P Hodges Jr

Military
media-16319.jpeg UPL 16319 2nd Lt James P Hodges Jr., 8th AF, 56th Fighter Group, 62nd Fighter Squadron

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Object Number - UPL 16319 - 2nd Lt James P Hodges Jr., 8th AF, 56th Fighter Group, 62nd Fighter Squadron

James P Hodges Jr. served as a pilot with the 56th Fighter Group during World War II.



His P-47D-22-RE Thunderbolt (LM-Cbar, serial number 42-26060) crash-landed near Kornelimünster, Germany on 18 September 1944. Hodges broke his leg in the crash and was hospitalized.

He eventually returned to the United States and served in the United States Air Force until his death in 1958. James died in a motor vehicle accident while stationed at Hahn Air Base as a F-86D Sabre pilot with the 496th Fighter Interceptor Squadron.



In his son's words:

"As the son of an Army Air Corps officer, my father's destiny was set. After a relatively short stint as a P47 pilot (crash landed in Germany), he continued with the AF, first as a MATS pilot and then into jet fighters. He died when I was five, so memories are few."

Connections

See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.

Units served with

People

General James O Hodges visits Colonel Thompson of the 448th Bomb Group. First handwritten caption on reverse: 'B/G James P Hodges (rt) with Col Thompson 448 BG (left).' Second handwritten caption on reverse: '448 BG- 2nd BD Co General Hodges visiting Col Thompson.'

James Pratt Hodges

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: Headquarters (2nd Air Division)
  • Service Numbers: O-10891
  • Highest Rank: Major General
  • Role/Job: Commanding General

Aircraft

42-26060

  • Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt
  • Unit: 359th Fighter Group 56th Fighter Group 368th Fighter Squadron 62nd Fighter Squadron

Missions

B-24 Liberators of the 392nd Bomb Group fly low over countryside. First handwritten caption on reverse: 'Holland or Rhine re supply 392 BG.' Second handwritten caption on reverse: '18/9/44. 392BG B/24 dropping parachute supplies. Low level in Holland 9/17/44.'

639

  • Date: 18 September 1944

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Other

Broke his leg in a P-47 crash

Kornelimünster, 52076 Aachen, Germany 18 September 1944

Died

Transferred Hospital

Wiesbaden, Germany 27 December 1958 MV accident while stationed at Hahn AB as F86D pilot with 496th FIS.

Revisions

Date
ContributorLucy May
Changes
Sources

Changed the key image.

Date
ContributorLucy May
Changes
Sources

Spelt out abbreviations in the Biography field for ease of understanding and added a few more details of James P Hodges Jr's service to that field.

Date
ContributorJPH3
Changes
Sources

Info submitted by James P Hodges III, son of James P Hodges Jr.

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / Ted Damick, VIII Fighter Command pilots list / www.56thfightergroup.co.uk/personnel.htm

James P Hodges: Gallery (4 items)

Object number: UPL 13162 - Republic P-47D-22-RE Thunderbolt (LM-Cbar, serial...

Object number: UPL 13163 - Recon element pose alongside Republic P-47D-22-RE...

Object number: UPL 13164 - Recon troops with Republic P-47D-22-RE Thunderbolt...

Object number: UPL 16319 - 2nd Lt James P Hodges Jr., 8th AF, 56th Fighter...