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Wall of Honor Level:
Air and Space Sponsor

Honored by:
Sharon Lemenille-Bodkin

William B Bodkin, of Sayville, NY , began his aviation career as a United States Army helicopter pilot. After completing Army Warrant Officer Rotary Wing training on Dec 15th, 1967 at Ft Wolters, TX and Ft Rucker, AL., WO1 Bodkin was assigned to Vietnam where he flew UH-1 Huey helicopters for the 2nd Signal Group of the 1st Signal Brigade. Bill arrived in Vietnam in January, 1968 and returned in January 1969 having been awarded the Bronze Star, the Air Medal with Oak Leaf Clusters, and the Army Commendation Medal.
Back in the United States, now a CW2 Chief Warrant Officer 2, Bill was assigned as an instrument instructor pilot at Hunter Army Airfield, Savannah, GA. After three and a half years of active duty Bill was honorably discharged in June of 1970 and returned home to Sayville, NY to finish his education and start his civilian flying career.
In Dec 1970, Bill was employed in aviation security by the US government as a skymarshal. At this time Bill was also a helicopter pilot with the 42nd Avn Batallion of the NYARNG based at MacArthur Airport in Islip, NY. After graduating from the State University of New York at Stony Brook in August 1973, Bill began his civilian flying career. Bill flew for Aero Fleet on Long Island and in 1974 Bill began flying for Air New England on DC-3s, Twin Otters, and Beech 99s.
In 1978 Bill was hired by United Airlines where he flew the DC-8, DC-10, and the Boeing 727,737, 747, 757,767,and 777. He worked for many years at the United Training Center in Denver where he was a flight instructor on the DC-8 and the DC-10. Bill was also a Standards Captain on the 757/767. In 1996 Bill became the Fleet Captain for the 747 and later the Fleet Captain on the 757/767 fleet. In 2000 Bill was promoted to Director of Flight Center Operations. In 2001 Bill returned to line flying as a Captain on the Boeing 777 and flew mostly international routes to Europe, Asia, and the South Pacific. He retired from United in August, 2005
After United, Bill flew the Gulfstream G-IV and G-450 for Mountain Aviation and Mayo Aviation. Upon retirement in 2020 Bill was presented with the Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award.