NODDER, F/L Horace James (J14733) - Mention in Despatches - No.22 OTU (AFRO gives unit only as “Overseas”) - Award effective 14 June 1945 as per London Gazette of that date and AFRO 1478/45 dated 21 September 1945. Born 23 December 1920 in Winnipeg; home there (order clerk); enlisted there 11 December 1941. To No.5 Manning Depot, 7 January 1942. To No.3 ITS, Victoriaville, 9 May 1942; graduated and promoted LAC, 4 July 1942; posted that date to No.1 BGS, Jarvis; graduated 28 August 1942 and posted next day to No.4 AOS, London; graduated and commissioned 9 October 1942. To “Y” Depot, 23 October 1942. To RAF overseas, 27 October 1942; arrived in UK, 5 November 1942; to No.22 OTU, 24 November 1942; to No.420 Squadron, 18 February 1943, proceeding with that unit to North Africa. Promoted Flying Officer, 9 April 1943. To No.71 General Hospital, 13 August 1943 following a crash landing (broken ankle with complications). No.2 BPD, 15 August 1943; returned to UK, 27 September 1943 and admitted to No.10 Canadian General Hospital; to No.22 OTU, 15 April 1944; promoted Flight Lieutenant, 9 October 1944; repatriated 23 March 1945; released 30 May 1945. Returned to Winnipeg where he resumed prewar career with General Electric. Transferred in 1949 to Saskatoon. In 1966 he was transferred back to Winnipeg, where he retired from General Electric in 1985. Served in postwar RCAF as Auxiliary Personnel Administrative Officer, 30 June 1955 to 30 June 1957 (No.406 Squadron, Saskatoon, service number 70745). Died in Winnipeg, 19 October 2000. On repatriation he filed a report stating he had flown 23 sorties (116 operational hours) and 87 non-operational hours overseas. While described as a “steady and reliable bomb aimer” in No.420 Squadron, it is the views of his superiors at No.22 OTU that gained him recognition. Thus, on 14 November 1944 he was described as “A keen, hard-working officer - also uses his initiative - has good personality and has a good power of command” and on 26 January 1945 G/C F.E. Nuttall wrote, “A very good officer. Hard working and intelligent. Possesses good power of command.” However, there is no specific recommendation for the Mention in Despatches. // Note: Notes: In crew of Wellington HE964, 2 June 1943, No.1 Overseas Aircraft Delivery Unit, landing at Peterborough. Aircraft lost power on takeoff and struck an obstruction, which damaged both propellers and set up vibrations. Aircraft force-landed with heavy damage to tail plane, bomb doors. Pilot was 164471 F/L R.N. Gourlie (later DFC in No.420 Squadron). Others in crew were J14769 P/O L.A. Arnold (navigator, later DFC), J14733 Horace James Nodder (bomb aimer, later Mentioned in Despatches), 1271075 Sergeant Heybourne (WAG), J20002 P/O Heath (rear gunner), and passengers R123511 LAC O’Shaughnessy and R115567 LAC Martin.