Bio / Text:
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Michael Christopher Bindloss BODDINGTON, of Hawkshead, Lancashire joined the RAFVR in 1937 as an Airman u/t Pilot.
Called up on 1st September 1939, he was posted to 10 FTS Tern Hill on the 9th on No. 13 Course which he completed on 6th November 1939.
His subsequent movements are currently undocumented until he arrived at 5 OTU Aston Down on 6th May 1940. He converted to Spitfires and then joined 249 Squadron on 29th May.
Boddington was posted to 234 Squadron at Church Fenton on 9th June 1940. He claimed a Do17 destroyed on 12th August, he shot down a Ju88 on the 14th, two Me110's on 4th September and destroyed Me109's on the 5th and 6th.
Boddington destroyed a Ju88 on 28th October, damaged a He111 on 2nd November, damaged a Ju88 on the 29th and destroyed a Do17 on 5th December.
He was commissioned in November and awarded the DFM (gazetted 26th November 1940).
Boddington damaged a Ju88 on 15th February 1941.
Soon afterwards he was posted to 118 Squadron at Filton as a Flight Commander. With his operational tour completed in September 1941, he went to HQ 10 Group and towards the end of the year he joined 286 Squadron at Filton on anti-aircraft co-operation duties.
In September 1942 Boddington was given command of 19 Squadron at Perranporth and led it until December. In May 1943 he was posted to North Africa to command 242 Squadron. He took it to Malta in June and to Lentini East in Sicily in July.
Boddington claimed a Me109 and a He111 destroyed on 10th July, shared a Ju88 the next day and destroyed a Me110 on the 13th.
He was awarded the DFC (gazetted 10th September 1943).
He commanded 242 until its disbandment at Gragnano on 4th November 1944.
Boddington was released from the RAF in February 1946 as a Squadron Leader.
He settled in New Guinea but later returned to the UK, where he died in January 1977.
Ref
Battle of Britain London Monument
