George Stacey Hodson

Air Vice Marshal George Stacey Hodson , (2 May 1899 – 1 October 1976) was an air officer of the British Royal Air Force who began his military career as a World War I flying ace credited with ten aerial victories. In the course of his 34 years service, he rose to become a major commander during World War II.

Early life Hodson was born in Belmont, Surrey, and was educated at Dulwich College.

World War I Hodson was commissioned as a probationary temporary second lieutenant on the General List for service in the Royal Flying Corps on 9 September 1917. Upon completion of his training, on 28 October 1917, he was confirmed in his rank and posted to No. 73 Squadron RFC. Flying a Sopwith Camel single seat fighter, he gained his first four aerial victories between 10 and 31 March 1918. and on 15 July 1919 was awarded the Croix de guerre by the Kingdom of Belgium.

List of aerial victories +Combat record Hodson was assigned to the Care and Maintenance Party at RAF Norwich, and on 1 April 1920 was assigned to the same duty at RAF Lincoln. He was posted to No. 1 Flying Training School on 15 March 1921,

He was promoted to flight lieutenant on 1 July 1925, and posted to No. 4 Flying Training School, Egypt, on 17 October. He finally returned to the UK, being assigned as a supernumerary at the RAF Depot on 14 February 1928, and on 30 July was posted to No. 5 Flying Training School, RAF Sealand. On 21 February 1931 he was posted to No. 58 Squadron, based at RAF Worthy Down, as a flight commander, to serve as adjutant and instructor.

On 1 August 1935 Hodson was promoted to squadron leader, and on 1 October he was appointed Chief Flying Instructor at No. 11 Flying Training School, RAF Wittering. On 24 February 1938 Hodson began an exchange posting with the Royal New Zealand Air Force, and in April 1938 took command of RNZAF Wigram, near Christchurch, New Zealand. On 1 July 1938 he was promoted to wing commander.

World War II Hodson remained in New Zealand after the outbreak of the war. His exchange posting with the Royal New Zealand Air Force was altered to special duty on 6 April 1940, and on 1 December 1940 he was promoted to the temporary rank of group captain. He eventually left Wigram in June 1942,

On 1 November 1942 he was appointed acting air commodore, becoming Air Officer Commanding, No. 44 Base, RAF Holme-on-Spalding Moor the same day. and acting air vice marshal on 9 August 1944, to take the position of AOC, No. 93 Group RAF. He was confirmed in his rank of as group captain on 23 January 1945 with seniority from 1 June 1944, and on 23 February was appointed AOC, No. 92 Group RAF. On 9 August 1945 he was awarded the war substantive rank of air commodore, to become Air Officer Training at the Headquarters of Bomber Command.

Postwar career In the 1946 New Year Honours, Hodson was made a Companion of the Order of the Bath. On 1 April he was appointed Air Officer in Charge of Administration at the Headquarters of Coastal Command. On 19 January 1947 he was again appointed acting air vice marshal, and on 1 February was appointed AOC, No. 205 Group RAF. During this posting, he was in charge of relocating airfields in Egypt from the Nile Delta south along the shores of the Suez Canal. His headquarters switched from RAF Heliopolis to RAF Fayid, even as No. 205 Squadron was stripped of its Lancasters. They were replaced by rotating detachments of Lincolns from Bomber Command. On 30 December 1949 he was appointed Senior Air Staff Officer at the Headquarters of Reserve Command, He became the Senior Air Staff Officer at the Headquarters of Home Command on 1 August 1950.

He died in Bognor Regis in 1976.