Edward F. Roddy, of Fresno, has passed away. He was born in Cleveland, Ohio, the youngest of five children to Cornelius and Mary Roddy.
He married Marie Callahan on July 29, 1946. They have five sons, two daughters, 11 grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, and one due in July.
Commissioned and rated pilot in December 1941, he joined the 56th Fighter Group (FG) on the East Coast, flying P-36, P-38 and P-47 aircraft. He went to the 80th FG and overseas with the 342nd Fighter Squadron, 348th FG where he became a Fighter Ace, later joining the 58th FG which he commanded for the last nine months of WWII. He flew 225 combat missions logging over 1500 hours flying time over the Southwest Pacific Area. He was credited with shooting down eight enemy aircraft and destroying many more on the ground. While leading a combat mission with sixteen P-47 aircraft from Okinawa to Kyushu at 8,000 feet, he witnessed the second Atomic Bomb detonation in Nagasaki. Flying throughout his three-decade military career, Colonel Roddy served in WWII, the Korean Conflict, the Vietnam War, and the Cold War. During his military career, Ed was awarded 22 impressive decorations and medals (several with multiple clusters and stars), including the Silver Star, the Legion of Merit, the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal, and many more including the Order of the British Empire. Roddy's post WWII tours included Korea where he flew F-51 and B-26 aircraft; the Pentagon; Tactical Air Command flying F-51, B-26, and C-46 aircraft in Japan, and flying F-100 aircraft in France and England; and the Air Defense Command flying F-86D, F-102, F-104, and F-106 aircraft. He completed his distinguished military career as the Air Force Advisor to the Air National Guard, Western Region, with his headquarters at the 144 FIW Fresno, California.
Colonel Roddy retired from the U.S. Air Force after completing 30 years as a combat fighter pilot with over 10,000 flying hours in single engine, single seat aircraft.
After retiring from the Air Force he completed his Bachelor's and Master's degrees at California State University, Fresno while serving as the Environmental Health and Safety Officer. He was presented with The Governor's Safety Award for establishing the Campus Safety program throughout the entire California State University System from, then, Governor Ronald Reagan. He retired after ten years as an administrator and instructor.
He spent his last years serving his community as a volunteer with La Tienda Guild, supporting Children's Hospital Central California, and as an advisor to the Airport Land Use Commission.
Viewing will be held at St. Paul Newman Center on Thursday, April 16, 2009, at 9:00 a.m.
A Memorial Mass will be celebrated at St. Paul Newman Center, 1572 E. Barstow Ave. in Fresno on Thursday, April 16, 2009, at 10:00 a.m.
Colonel Roddy will be interred with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery on July 6, 2009.
In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations be made to Children's Hospital Central California, 9300 Valley Children's Place, Madera, Ca. 93636-8762.
Published in Fresno Bee on 4/14/2009
He married Marie Callahan on July 29, 1946. They have five sons, two daughters, 11 grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, and one due in July.
Commissioned and rated pilot in December 1941, he joined the 56th Fighter Group (FG) on the East Coast, flying P-36, P-38 and P-47 aircraft. He went to the 80th FG and overseas with the 342nd Fighter Squadron, 348th FG where he became a Fighter Ace, later joining the 58th FG which he commanded for the last nine months of WWII. He flew 225 combat missions logging over 1500 hours flying time over the Southwest Pacific Area. He was credited with shooting down eight enemy aircraft and destroying many more on the ground. While leading a combat mission with sixteen P-47 aircraft from Okinawa to Kyushu at 8,000 feet, he witnessed the second Atomic Bomb detonation in Nagasaki. Flying throughout his three-decade military career, Colonel Roddy served in WWII, the Korean Conflict, the Vietnam War, and the Cold War. During his military career, Ed was awarded 22 impressive decorations and medals (several with multiple clusters and stars), including the Silver Star, the Legion of Merit, the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal, and many more including the Order of the British Empire. Roddy's post WWII tours included Korea where he flew F-51 and B-26 aircraft; the Pentagon; Tactical Air Command flying F-51, B-26, and C-46 aircraft in Japan, and flying F-100 aircraft in France and England; and the Air Defense Command flying F-86D, F-102, F-104, and F-106 aircraft. He completed his distinguished military career as the Air Force Advisor to the Air National Guard, Western Region, with his headquarters at the 144 FIW Fresno, California.
Colonel Roddy retired from the U.S. Air Force after completing 30 years as a combat fighter pilot with over 10,000 flying hours in single engine, single seat aircraft.
After retiring from the Air Force he completed his Bachelor's and Master's degrees at California State University, Fresno while serving as the Environmental Health and Safety Officer. He was presented with The Governor's Safety Award for establishing the Campus Safety program throughout the entire California State University System from, then, Governor Ronald Reagan. He retired after ten years as an administrator and instructor.
He spent his last years serving his community as a volunteer with La Tienda Guild, supporting Children's Hospital Central California, and as an advisor to the Airport Land Use Commission.
Viewing will be held at St. Paul Newman Center on Thursday, April 16, 2009, at 9:00 a.m.
A Memorial Mass will be celebrated at St. Paul Newman Center, 1572 E. Barstow Ave. in Fresno on Thursday, April 16, 2009, at 10:00 a.m.
Colonel Roddy will be interred with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery on July 6, 2009.
In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations be made to Children's Hospital Central California, 9300 Valley Children's Place, Madera, Ca. 93636-8762.
Published in Fresno Bee on 4/14/2009
Edward F. Roddy, of Fresno, has passed away. He was born in Cleveland, Ohio, the youngest of five children to Cornelius and Mary Roddy.
He married Marie Callahan on July 29, 1946. They have five sons, two daughters, 11 grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, and one due in July.
Commissioned and rated pilot in December 1941, he joined the 56th Fighter Group (FG) on the East Coast, flying P-36, P-38 and P-47 aircraft. He went to the 80th FG and overseas with the 342nd Fighter Squadron, 348th FG where he became a Fighter Ace, later joining the 58th FG which he commanded for the last nine months of WWII. He flew 225 combat missions logging over 1500 hours flying time over the Southwest Pacific Area. He was credited with shooting down eight enemy aircraft and destroying many more on the ground. While leading a combat mission with sixteen P-47 aircraft from Okinawa to Kyushu at 8,000 feet, he witnessed the second Atomic Bomb detonation in Nagasaki. Flying throughout his three-decade military career, Colonel Roddy served in WWII, the Korean Conflict, the Vietnam War, and the Cold War. During his military career, Ed was awarded 22 impressive decorations and medals (several with multiple clusters and stars), including the Silver Star, the Legion of Merit, the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal, and many more including the Order of the British Empire. Roddy's post WWII tours included Korea where he flew F-51 and B-26 aircraft; the Pentagon; Tactical Air Command flying F-51, B-26, and C-46 aircraft in Japan, and flying F-100 aircraft in France and England; and the Air Defense Command flying F-86D, F-102, F-104, and F-106 aircraft. He completed his distinguished military career as the Air Force Advisor to the Air National Guard, Western Region, with his headquarters at the 144 FIW Fresno, California.
Colonel Roddy retired from the U.S. Air Force after completing 30 years as a combat fighter pilot with over 10,000 flying hours in single engine, single seat aircraft.
After retiring from the Air Force he completed his Bachelor's and Master's degrees at California State University, Fresno while serving as the Environmental Health and Safety Officer. He was presented with The Governor's Safety Award for establishing the Campus Safety program throughout the entire California State University System from, then, Governor Ronald Reagan. He retired after ten years as an administrator and instructor.
He spent his last years serving his community as a volunteer with La Tienda Guild, supporting Children's Hospital Central California, and as an advisor to the Airport Land Use Commission.
Viewing will be held at St. Paul Newman Center on Thursday, April 16, 2009, at 9:00 a.m.
A Memorial Mass will be celebrated at St. Paul Newman Center, 1572 E. Barstow Ave. in Fresno on Thursday, April 16, 2009, at 10:00 a.m.
Colonel Roddy will be interred with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery on July 6, 2009.
In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations be made to Children's Hospital Central California, 9300 Valley Children's Place, Madera, Ca. 93636-8762.
Published in Fresno Bee on 4/14/2009
He married Marie Callahan on July 29, 1946. They have five sons, two daughters, 11 grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, and one due in July.
Commissioned and rated pilot in December 1941, he joined the 56th Fighter Group (FG) on the East Coast, flying P-36, P-38 and P-47 aircraft. He went to the 80th FG and overseas with the 342nd Fighter Squadron, 348th FG where he became a Fighter Ace, later joining the 58th FG which he commanded for the last nine months of WWII. He flew 225 combat missions logging over 1500 hours flying time over the Southwest Pacific Area. He was credited with shooting down eight enemy aircraft and destroying many more on the ground. While leading a combat mission with sixteen P-47 aircraft from Okinawa to Kyushu at 8,000 feet, he witnessed the second Atomic Bomb detonation in Nagasaki. Flying throughout his three-decade military career, Colonel Roddy served in WWII, the Korean Conflict, the Vietnam War, and the Cold War. During his military career, Ed was awarded 22 impressive decorations and medals (several with multiple clusters and stars), including the Silver Star, the Legion of Merit, the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal, and many more including the Order of the British Empire. Roddy's post WWII tours included Korea where he flew F-51 and B-26 aircraft; the Pentagon; Tactical Air Command flying F-51, B-26, and C-46 aircraft in Japan, and flying F-100 aircraft in France and England; and the Air Defense Command flying F-86D, F-102, F-104, and F-106 aircraft. He completed his distinguished military career as the Air Force Advisor to the Air National Guard, Western Region, with his headquarters at the 144 FIW Fresno, California.
Colonel Roddy retired from the U.S. Air Force after completing 30 years as a combat fighter pilot with over 10,000 flying hours in single engine, single seat aircraft.
After retiring from the Air Force he completed his Bachelor's and Master's degrees at California State University, Fresno while serving as the Environmental Health and Safety Officer. He was presented with The Governor's Safety Award for establishing the Campus Safety program throughout the entire California State University System from, then, Governor Ronald Reagan. He retired after ten years as an administrator and instructor.
He spent his last years serving his community as a volunteer with La Tienda Guild, supporting Children's Hospital Central California, and as an advisor to the Airport Land Use Commission.
Viewing will be held at St. Paul Newman Center on Thursday, April 16, 2009, at 9:00 a.m.
A Memorial Mass will be celebrated at St. Paul Newman Center, 1572 E. Barstow Ave. in Fresno on Thursday, April 16, 2009, at 10:00 a.m.
Colonel Roddy will be interred with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery on July 6, 2009.
In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations be made to Children's Hospital Central California, 9300 Valley Children's Place, Madera, Ca. 93636-8762.
Published in Fresno Bee on 4/14/2009
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