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| S/Sgt. Ivan Bodie, WWII |
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| Current Address: |
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403 Fifth St., S.W., State Center, IA 50247-2021 |
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| Email: |
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| Family Information: |
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Parents: William and Nellie; Wife: Barbara; Children: Steven, Bruce. |
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| Hometown: |
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Los Angeles, CA |
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| Date Entered Service: |
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August 27, 1942 |
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| Service Number: |
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39253128 |
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| Bomb Group: |
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444th |
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| Squadron: |
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678th |
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| Location of Unit: |
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Great Bend, KS (1943) |
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| Missions Flown: |
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28+ |
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| Hump Missions Flown: |
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20+ |
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| Targets: |
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Yawata, Bangkok |
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| Awards/Decorations: |
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Air Medal with 6 Oak Leaf Clusters, 4 Bronze Battle Stars, China Campaign Medal, Air Offensive Japan Campaign Medal, India-Burma Air Combat Campaign Medal, Distinguished Flying Cross, Good Conduct Medal, WWII Victory Medal awarded Nov. 18, 1947 at State Center, IA
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| Service Schools Attended: |
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Airplane Mechanic Feb 1943; Electrical Apr 1943; B-29 Armor Jul 1943 |
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| Military Specialty(ies): |
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MOS 685-Airplane Electrical Mechanic, Specialist, Left Gunner, B-29 Aircraft |
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| Rank Upon Discharge: |
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S/Sgt |
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| Crew Type: |
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Flight crew |
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| Airplane Serial No.& Name: |
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#391 "The Uninvited" - (crashed 6/5/44), 42-24507 Bachelor Quarters
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| Were you a POW? |
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No |
| If so, where? |
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| Were you interned? |
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No |
| If so, where? |
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| Date Transferred from the 58th: |
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| Date Discharged from the 58th: |
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June 26, 1945 |
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| Post-WWII Military Service: |
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| Post-WWII Civilian Occupation(s): |
| Mechanic at Miller Chevrolet Dealership, State Center, IA; moved to Los Angeles, CA, and was employed at Lockheed Aircraft at Burbank, CA. This location was where I was inducted, even though my hometown was State Center, IA. |
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| Thoughts on the 58th Bomb Wing: |
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I wanted to serve my country in whatever capacity I could. Every young person should serve at least two years. It teaches discipline, character and makes one a better person.
Our crew of eleven men were a very close knit group. As many as seven crew members have remained special friends and have renewed memories at the 58th Bomb Wing reunions.
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| Comments: |
| On June 5th, 1944 we were on a mission when B-29 aircraft was running low on fuel. Pilot, Major Booth G. Malone, made a decision to exit aircraft. Every crew member jumped except one -- he went down with the aircraft and it burned in Chinese graveyard. All other crew members were strung out. I landed in a rice paddy after having much trouble opening my chute. One crew member landed in a tree. All of us walked a long time before arriving at headquarters, and then were interrogated at length. I credit our Pilot Major Booth Malone with keeping a cool head and saving our lives. |
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| Ivan Bodie, 2003 |
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