New Commander Nome Air Base
COLONEL JOEL E. MALLORY
A
Nome Air Base welcomes its
new Commanding Officer, Colonel
Joel E. Mallory. Filling the va
cancy created by Colonel John E.
Bodle, Colonel Mallory assumed
command of Nome Air Base on
October 21, 1947.
Colonel Mallory began his mili
tary career in 1924 when the Air
Corps was still in its infancy. He
trained as an Aviation Cadet, but
only for a short time due to an in
jury sustained while playing bas
ketball. Later in 1927, he resumed
his Aviation Cadet training and
in June 1928, he subsequently re
ceived his commission in the Air
Corps Reserve as a Second Lieu
tenant. During the early phases of
his flight training, it is interesting
to note that the Colonel was first
soloed in an old “Jenny” by his
, instructor, now Lt. General Twin- 1
p ing, Commanding General of the
Alaskan Department. Upon his
graduation into “The Wild Blue
Yonder,” he flew fighter craft for
a period of eight years. In 1934.
he was sent down to Panama and
there he was stationed at Albrook
Field, remaining there for approx
imately two years.
After World War II broke out.
Colonel Mallory was assigned as
Commanding Officer of the Basic
Training School at Greenwood,
Mississippi until 1943. He then was
sent overseas into the European
Theatre and there he served 12
months in England. France and
Belgium with the 9th Air Force
and then six months in England
with the 8th Air Force. Exchang
ing, his desk for a B-17, the Col
onel flew 16 combat missions over
Germany, and for his participa
tion in combat, he received the
Air Medal with an oak leaf clus
ter, and for displayed heroism, he
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Colonel John E. Bodle, past
Commanding Officer of Nome Air
Base is expected to leave Nome
with his family on or about Nov. j
1, for Biggs Field, Texas. Replac
ing Colonel Bodle in his command
at Nome Air Base is Colonel Joel i
E. Mallory.
Colonel Bodle is a veteran of 26
years service with the Army and
22 years with the Air Corps. He
began his military career in the
Infantry and received his commis- ,
sion as Second Lieutenant in the
Infantry Reserve Corps. In March,
1925, the Colonel transferred to
the Air Corps and received flight
training as an Aviation Cadet.
From 1925 to 1942, his rise in rank
was rapid and in December, 1942,
he was sent overseas to Australia
and New Guinea with the 5th Air
Force. There, he served as a mem
ber of General Whitehead's staff
until April, 1943.
Later, during the war years, the i
Colonel then returned to the j
United States where he was as
signed to Will Rogers Field, Okla
homa as Commanding Officer.
On December 6, 1945, Colonel
Bodle arrived in the Alaskan The
atre and was sent to Adak to be
assigned to the Alaskan Air Com
dand as Director of Operations
and Training. On August 5, 1946,
he assumed command of Nome
Army Air Base.
Colonel Bodle was awarded the
Distinguished Unit Citation, the
Army Commendation Ribbon, and
i in addition, he wears the Ameri
can Defense Ribbon, the American
Theatre Ribbon, the Pacific Thea
tre Ribbon and the Victory Rib
bon. Also, the Colonel is rated as
j a Command Pilot, Combat Ob
j server and Aerial Observer. He is
; a permanent Major of the U. S.
Air Forces.
While at Nome, Colonel Bodle’s
local activities included member
M
: ship in the Rotary Club, the East-^
1 ern Star and also the Colonel is a
I 32nd Degree Mason of the Alas
: kan Consistory. Also, during his
received the Distinguished Flying
Cross. In addition, he wears the
European Theatre Ribbon with
; five battle stars, the American
Theatre Ribbon, the American
Defense Ribbon, the Victory Rib
bon and the Commendation Rib
bon. He is rated as a Command
Pilot and Aerial Observer.
Upon his return to the United
States from the ETO, Colonel Mai
’ lory was assigned to Lincoln
Army Air Field, Lincoln, Nebras
ka, as Commanding Officer. Dur
ing the early part of 1946, he as
sumed command of the Basic
Training School at She p p a r d
Field, Texas. Later in 1946, he was
sent to Washington, D. C., to the
Industrial College of the Armed
Forces. There he remained until
his assignemtn to Alaska and then
to Nome.
During his military career, the
Colonel became very adept in
sports. Early in his career, he
played basketball on a team
coached by Lt. General Twining,;
and from General Carl Spaatz,
now Commanding General of the
Army Air Forces, he learned a!
game called “Squash Racquets,” i
which was then popular among
the Air Corps Regulars. He be
came so adept in this game that he
remained unexcelled in Air Force
circles for a period of eight or ten !
years. Along with sports, his in- 1
terests and hobbies are bridge,
photography, music and learning
the “intricacies” of playing ping
pong.
Colonel Mallory was born in 1
California on February 24, 1902. j
His home is in Santa Rosa, Cal
ifornia, where his wife and ten1
Past Commander Nome Air Base
1 JOHN E. BODLE
COLONEL JOHN E. BODLE
year old son are presently residin'-',
stay at Nome, the Colonel has de
veloped great interest in the
hobby of amateur photography.
His amiable and friendly asso
ciations with both the military
and civilian personnel of Nome
and N< me Air Base, are reflected
n dm :r regret at his departure
h nvevc”. it is with the best wishes
of all who knew him, that he pro
ceed to his new station and as
signment with good luck and suc
cess for the future.
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