John Trevor Godfrey

Military
media-13438.jpeg UPL 13438 Captain John 'Johnny' T. Godfrey of the 4th Fighter Group.

The caption said this was Blakeslee but '1000 Destroyed' (by Grover Hall) identified him as Godfrey.

Object Number - UPL 13438 - Captain John 'Johnny' T. Godfrey of the 4th Fighter Group.

John T Godfrey was born in Canada, but his parents moved to Rhode Island when he was young. At the outbreak of war he enlisted with the Royal Canadian Air Force. He transferred to the 8th Air Force in August 1943 and earned fame as the wing man of Ace, Don Gentile. He completed his first tour of duty in April 1944, but soon returned to the European Theatre in August 1944 to lead the 336th Fighter Squadron. On 24 August 1944, he was shot down during a strafing mission by his wing man and taken prisoner of war. Godfrey pursued a career in politics and business following the war, until he was diagnosed with motor neurone disease. He died in 1958.



Prisoner of War (POW) crashed in Northeim on 24 Aug 44 in P-51 #4413412. He was with the RAF before US entered war so the AAf allowed him to wear the RCAF Wings.



He also was wingman for Don Gentile and they made quite a mark in the history books for their outstanding flying during WW II.



Dist. Unit Citation Ribbon; Dist. Serv. Cross, Silver Star [OLC], DFC [5 OLC]; Purple Heart; Air Medal [3 OLC]; and European Theater Ribbon [4 battle stars]; WWII Victory; French Croix de Guerre w/ Silver Star; American Campaign Medal; American Defense Service Medal; Canadian Volunteer Ribbon w/ Maple Leaf.



16.33 air/13.67 ground

Connections

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Units served with

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 336th Fighter Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Crew Chief

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
  • Nicknames: Reggie's Reply
  • Unit: 4th Fighter Group 336th Fighter Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt
  • Nicknames: Reggie's Reply / Lucky, Donnie Boy
  • Unit: 404th Fighter Group 4th Fighter Group 336th Fighter Squadron 506th Fighter Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
  • Nicknames: Little Mac
  • Unit: 4th Fighter Group 336th Fighter Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
  • Unit: 4th Fighter Group 336th Fighter Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
  • Unit: 4th Fighter Group 336th Fighter Squadron

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Montreal, QC, Canada 28 March 1922

Other

Assigned

Debden, Saffron Walden, Essex CB11, UK 22 September 1943 - 27 August 1944 Assigned to 336FS, 4FG, 8AF USAAF.

Other

Promoted

Debden, Saffron Walden, Essex CB11, UK 1 December 1943 Promoted to 1st Lt.

Other

A Flight Commander

30 March 1944 Designated Flight Commander A Flight.

Other

Promoted

Debden, Saffron Walden, Essex CB11, UK 26 April 1944 Promoted to Captain.

Other

Prisoner of War (POW)

Zagan, Poland 24 August 1944 Prisoner of War.

Other

Shot down

Nordhausen, Germany 24 August 1944 Aircraft struck by fire from wingman while strafing; crash-landed near Nordhausen, Germany; POW. MACR 7941.

Died

South Freeport, Freeport, ME 04032, USA 12 June 1958 Died of ALS "Lou Gehrig Disease".

Prisoner of War (POW)

Woonsocket, RI, USA

Buried

Rhode Island, USA Maple Root Cemetery Coventry, Kent County Rhode Island, USA.

Revisions

Date
Contributorapollo11
Changes
Sources

Personal research & 'Eighty-One Aces of the 4th Fighter Group' by Frank Speer.

Date
ContributorEmily
Changes
Sources

Added place of burial and awards into relevant sections from Bio.

Date
ContributorEmily
Changes
Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / Fighter Aces of the U. S. A. and Mustang Aces of the Eighth Air Force MACR 7941 / MACR 7941 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database / Ted Damick, VIII Fighter Command pilots list

John Trevor Godfrey: Gallery (24 items)