Alvin Graham Bodkin Rank: Pilot Officer Status: Died 1944-10-07

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Lancaster FM213
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"A" Able flying through the Eiffel Tower? (although this event likely happened, this photograph is likely fake.) It is signed by the late Bill Bryant RAF who was the navigator of that aircraft piloted by Bob Boorman RCAF. The caption reads "This Stars Stripes photograph was taken on 14 September 1944 and shows a Mosquito Mk XIII of 409 Squadron RCAF. Pilot - W/O Bob Boorman RCAF Navigator F/S Bill Bryant RAF Flying through the Eiffel Tower."
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Bodkin, Alvin Graham (Pilot Officer)

Died 1944-October-07

Birth Date: 1909-June-26 (age 35)

Son of Frank G. Bodkin and Henrietta Bodkin; husband of Hilda Bodkin, of Toronto, Ontario.

Husband of Hilda Bodkin, of Toronto, Ontario.

Home: Toronto, Ontario

Service
RCAF

Unit
5 OTU- Operational Training Unit

Base
Abbotsford, British Columbia

Rank

Pilot Officer

Marshal
Air Chief Marshal	A/C/M
Air Marshal	A/M
Air Vice Marshal	A/V/M
Air Commodore	A/C
Group Captain	G/C
Wing Commander	W/C
Squadron Leader	S/L
Flight Lieutenant	F/L
Flying Officer	F/O
Pilot Officer	P/O
Warrant Officer 1st Class	WO1
Warrant Officer 2nd Class	WO2
Flight Sergeant	FS
Sergeant	SGT
Corporal	CPL
Senior Aircraftman	SAC
Leading Aircraftman	LAC
Aircraftman 1st Class	AC1
Aircraftman 2nd Class	AC2

Position
Navigator

Service Numbers
J/45826

5 Operational Training Unit - Detachment, Abbotsford, British Columbia. Mentioned in 5 Operational Training Unit - Detachment Daily Diary that he had died on 6 October 1944. No cause of death mentioned. From Michael DesMazes: (Saturday Oct 7th) a Canadian crew from course seven where on a cross country exercise in Liberator EW128 â€œAâ€, when the aircraft suffered an oxygen equipment failure and the crews Navigator collapsed. The aircraft made an emergency landing at Port Hardy where their navigator was pronounced dead from an apparent heart attack. His body was interned at his home in Napinka Cemetery, Manitoba.

Canada Primary Source School Daily Diary Entry â€“ 1944-10-07

Canada Source Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Commonwealth War Graves Commission

Find-A-Grave.com

Canada Primary Source Library and Archives Canada Service Files (may not exist)

Home

Toronto, Ontario

Burial
Google Map

Napinka Cemetery, Canada
Lot 19 Block 4

5 OTU- Operational Training Unit (5 Operational Training Unit)

The Operational Training Unit (OTU) was the last stop for aircrew trainees. They spent 8 to 14 weeks learning to fly operational aircraft (Hawker Hurricane or Fairey Swordfish, e.g.). The instructors had experience in actual operations, and often were posted to OTUs after their operational tour. 5 Operational Training Unit was established at RCAF Station Boundary Bay, British Columbia. The former station is now the Boundary Bay Airport. More information on the RCAF Station at Boundary Bay can be found at

RCAF Roundel RCAF.Info

A Detachment of 5 Operational Training Unit was established at RCAF Station Abbotsford, British Columbia. The former Station is now the Abbotsford International Airport. More information on the RCAF Station at Abbotsford can be found at

RCAF Roundel RCAF.Info

1944-04-01 Primary Location Boundary Bay Canada
1944-04-01 Detachment Abbotsford Canada

Griffin Library, 17 Wing Winnipeg

Lancaster FM213

Andrew Mynarski, VC

Bodkin, Alvin Graham (Pilot Officer)

Died 1944-October-07

5 OTU- Operational Training Unit (5 Operational Training Unit)

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