Hi Jules,

your Flt Lt Kenneth George Hodson was my Father! Sadly he died last October 2011 aged 92. His final rank was Sqn Ldr, when he retired in 1974 aged 55 years.

Dad joined the VR in 1939, and flew Blenheims initially.

The tunic you have may well have had the “O” badge, as at the start of the war he was an Observer, although later when this was split between Navigator and Bomb Aimer, he became a Navigator. Up until his death, he believed he was the last surviving WWII Observer.

He was awarded the O.B.E in 1960, after administrating the take over of RAF Sealand from the Americans.

Since 2000, with much encouragement from me, he wrote his life story (5 books). Book 2 – “The War Years” is a fascinating account of what it was like to be on bombers during the war. It is also a great reference for me, as there is no way I could remember all that he had told me over the years.

I still have some of his uniforms, mainly mess kit, but with the fabled “Flying ********” badge (excuse my French, but that is what the Observer wing was known as!). I have his George VI commission certificates, and his Elizabeth II O.B.E. certificate. Plus all his medals and log books.