Missing information?
Do you have any additional information you would like to share about a soldier?
Submit- Full
name
BODDEN, Fred Matterson Jr - Date of
birth
15 May 1923 -
Age
22 - Place of
birth
Tampa, Hillsborough, Florida -
Hometown
Hillsborough County, Florida
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O-829624 -
Rank
Second Lieutenant -
Function
Pilot -
Unit
513th Fighter Squadron,
406th Fighter Group
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
25 December 1945 - Place of
death
Near Trois-Monts, Belgium
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| A | 35 | 51 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Fred M. Bodden (father)
Fannie Bodden (mother)
Lucille B. Bodden (sister)
Richard E. Bodden (brother)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-27362 -
Data
Type: P-47D-24RE
Nickname: Marty
Destination: Bastogne area, Belgium
Mission: Ground Support
MACR: 11434
More information
2nd Lt Fred M. Bodden graduated from Hillsborough School.He joined the Air Corps in February 1943 and was sent overseas in October 1944.
Statement from Gordon T. Spinhirne:
On 25 December 1944, I was leading Yellow Flight on an attack at P-4764. We were diving bombing gun positions. On the first pass, Lt Bodden did not release his bombs. On circling to make a second pass, I called his attention to the fact that he still had his bombs. He acknowledged the call and made a second pass. I saw him last just before the bomb release point, after which we all hit the deck because of intense flak. It is my belief that he went in while we were taking evasive action on the deck, since he was not with the flight when we pulled up. I did not see a plane go in, however. The weather at this point was CAVU.
Source of information: Astrid van Erp, Terry Hirsch, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.fold3.com, www.ancestry.com, www.newspapers.com - The Tampa Tribune, WWII Draft Card
Photo source: Astrid van Erp, www.newspapers.com - The Tampa Tribune