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SSgt Harry McCown (Mac)
to remember
Godfrey, John Trevor, Maj.
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John Godfrey was born on March 28, 1922, in Canada, and was raised in Woonsocket, Rhode Island. He joined the Royal Canadian Air Force in August 1941 and graduated from flight school in October 1942. Godfrey then served with the No 57 Operational Training Unit in England before receiving a commission with the U.S. Army Air Forces on April 27, 1943. He was assigned to the 336th Fighter Squadron of the 4th Fighter Group in September 1943, and was credited with destroying 16.33 enemy aircraft in aerial combat plus another 12.66 in ground strafing runs before he was forced to ditch his aircraft in Germany and was taken as a Prisoner of War on August 24, 1944. Maj Godfrey managed to escape from his POW camp just before the war ended and returned to the United States soon after. He served at bases in New Jersey, Rhode Island, Alabama, and Ohio after the war, and received an honorable discharge on March 30, 1946, and served in the Air Force Reserve until April 1, 1953. John Godfrey served as a Rhode Island State Senator from 1952 to 1954, and died of Lou Gehrig's Disease on June 12, 1958. He was buried at the Maple Root Cemetery in Coventry, Rhode Island.
Other Comments:
His 1st (of 2) Silver Star Citation reads:
For gallantry in action, while piloting a fighter aircraft in support of bombers on a mission over Germany, 8 March 1944. Shortly after making rendezvous with the formation, enemy aircraft were observed preparing to attack the bombers. Exhibiting superior combat tactics, Lieutenant Godfrey and his section leader immediately launched a vigorous attack, each of them destroying one of the enemy planes. While climbing back to protect the bombers, two more enemy fighters were seen flying towards the formation. Again Lieutenant Godfrey engaged the enemy and destroyed another aircraft. This encounter was hardly over before Lieutenant Godfrey and his section leader shared in the destruction of a third enemy fighter. The gallantry, zeal and superior flying skill displayed by Lieutenant Godfrey in protecting the formation served as an inspiration to his fellow flyers and materially aided in the completion of an important bombing mission.
1942-1943, P-47 Thunderbolt (Jug)
From Year 1942
To Year 1943
Personal Memories
Not Specified
Image
P-47 Thunderbolt (Jug) Details
Aircraft/Missile Information
Specifications StatsCentral Model Republic P-47D Thunderbolt Length 36.15 ft | 11.02 m Width 40.68 ft | 12.40 m Height 14.67 ft | 4.47 m Engine(s) 1 x Pratt & Whitney R-2800-59 Double-Wasp eighteen cylinder radial engine generating 2,535hp. Empty Weight 9,949 lbs | 4,513 kg MTOW 17,500 lbs | 7,938 kg Max Speed 433 mph | 697 km/h | 376 kts Max Range 449 miles | 722 km Ceiling 40,994 ft | 12,495 m | 7.8 miles Climb Rate 3,200 ft/min (976 m/min) Hardpoints 3 Armament 8 x 12.7mm Machine Guns 10 x 5 in Air-to-Surface HE Rockets
Provision for bomb load, fuel drop tanks or rockets to a maximum of 2,500lbs (1,134kg). Accommodations 1
Major Variants
* XP-47B - Prototype featuring XR-2800 radial generating 1,850hp. * P-47B - Production model based on XP-47B prototype; R-2800-21 radial engine. * P-47C - Extended fuselage; Later types of this model featuring R-2800-59 radial at 2,300hp; Provisions for drop tanks and bombs. * P-47D - Main production model of which 12,602 produced; R-2800-21W (2,300hp) or R-2800-59W (2,535hp) water-injected radial powerplants; Increased MTOW capacity; Provision for drop tanks and air-to-surface HE rockets. * P-47G - Wright-produced P-47D models of which 354 produced. * P-47M - 'Sprinter' interception model designed to combat the V1 / V2 rocket threat; Featured specialized airbrake system and R-2800-57(C) radial generating 2,800hp; 130 produced. * P-47N - Exclusive Pacific Theater model; Long range variant with increased and reinforced wing section of which 1,816 produced; Longer wingspan with blunt-tipped wing tips concealing fuel compartments; R-2800-77 radial generating 2,800hp.