Crelin
Firstname
Arthur
Middle Name
Bodie
Surname
Date of Birth
School Years:
Date of Death:
1930 - 38
Family
Father: Henry Crelin Bodie born 1883
Mother: Elsie May Bodie (nee Smith) born 1900
Wife: Joan Bodie (nee Eddowes) married in Cambridge in 1941
School Record
He was a prefect and Captain of Hockey. He was also a member of the School 1st XV of 1937 which played 11 games, won 10 and drew 1. Of the 18 who appear in the School photograph of the XV, 15 served, 4 were killed and 3 wounded. The Master in charge, R.H.F. Gleave, who was an O.I., also served.
Branch of Service:
RAF
Service Number:
42790
Rank:
Decorations:
Service Record
Flight Sgt/Pilot
DFC and Campaign Medals
Post War Career
He joined the RAF on a Short Service Commission in October 1939. On completion of his training he was posted to 66 Squadron at Duxford in May 1940. On the 8th July he claimed an He111 destroyed, on the 19th August he shared a probable He111 and on the 20th he shared in destroying 2 Me110's. On the 31st he shared a Do17, on 2nd September he shared a He111, on the 4th he got a probable Me109, on the 6th damaged 2 Me109's, on the 11th destroyed a He111, on the 15th destroyed 2 Do17's and shared in the destruction of 2 others. He claimed a He111 destroyed on the 18th September, a Me109 probably downed on the 24th, a Ju88 damaged on 5th October, a Me109 destroyed on the 11th, 2 more probably destroyed and 2 others damaged on the 12th and 3 probably destroyed on the 13th and 25th and 14th November.
He was awarded the DFC which was gazetted on 8th November 1940.
In March 1941 he was posted to 310 Squadron at Duxford as Flight Commander and then to 152 Squadron at Portreath in June 1941. On 24th February 1942 his Spitfire 11A P8077 spun into the ground at Eglington Northern Ireland during training and he was killed. It is believed that he was performing aerobatics at the time.
He has been credited in the List of U. K. Aces with 11 kills.
R. J. Sage (O.I. 1942 - 45) recalled that:- "many O.I.s will remember Bodie looping and rolling his Spitfire over the School and over his parent's home"
Burial Information
Buried in Churchyard of St. Canice Eglington County Antrim Northern Island.
R. J. Sage (O.I. 1942 - 45) states:- "I well remember Rev. Castle announcing this (his death) in Chapel with great sadness."
Additional Information
Crelin Bodie (known as "Bogle" because he was a menace at parties with the Ladies) is featured in a book first published in 1942 entitled "Ten Fighter Boys" and re-published in 2008 by Collins with a foreword by Jimmy Corbin, the last surviving member of the group. Squadron Leader Hubert Allen DFC commanded 66 Squadron and had the idea of putting together first hand stories written at the time by a few of "the Few". This compilation is the result. At the end of Bogle's contribution, he writes:- "I flew to the coast and set course for home. Passing low over fields and villages,rivers and towns, I looked down at labourers working, children at play, beside a redbrick schoolhouse, a bomb crater two streets away; little black heads in the streets, turning to white blobs as they heard my engine and looked up. I thought of workers in shops and factories, of stretcher-parties and A.R.P. wardens. I hoped the "All Clear" had gone. I was tired, I'd done my best for them."
He is also mentioned in a book entitledd "Aces High" by C. F. Shores and C Williams which was re-printed in 1994.
His DFC was presented to the School by his parents.
Other Pictures
