Francis Hodder

Francis Samuel Hodder (11 February 1906 – 6 September 1943) was an Irish first-class cricketer, rugby union player and Royal Air Force officer. Hodder served in the Royal Air Force from 1925 until his death in 1943 during the Second World War. During his athletic career, he played for the Royal Air Force cricket team and rugby union for London Irish.

Early life and military career The son of Samuel and Maud Hodder, he was born at Ringabella House in Carrigaline, Ireland. He was educated in England at Forest Hill House School, where he played for the school cricket team. Three years later he was promoted to the rank of flight lieutenant in November 1930.

Hodder played first-class cricket for the Royal Air Force cricket team against the Army at The Oval in 1931. Batting twice in the match, Hodder was ended the Royal Air Force first-innings unbeaten having scored a single run, while in their second-innings he remained unbeaten on 10. With his right-arm bowling, he bowled a total of 28 overs across the match, conceding 69 runs and taking the wicket of Bill Leggatt. He married Evelyn Margaret Bowden-Smith in early 1940, with the couple having two sons. After the allied defeat in France, Hodder returned home and was placed on engineering duties, firstly at Rootes Aircraft Factory and later at Handley Page. and obtained the full rank the following month.

In July 1943, he was placed in command of RAF Syerston. Having had little flying experience, Hodder wanted to experience what his men experienced during bombing raids. He joined the crew of a Lancaster bomber during a bombing mission to Mannheim on the night of 5/6 September. Near Mannheim the bomber encountered a Luftwaffe night fighter and was shot down, killing all aboard with the exception of one survivor. Hodder is buried at the Rheinberg War Cemetery.