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JAMES A. GOODSON
Last Wartime Rank:
Lt. Colonel
Born:
March 21, 1921
New York City, NY
Unit(s):
416 Squadron, RCAF
43 Squadron, Royal Air Force
133 Squadron, Royal Air Force
336th FS/4th FG/8th AF
Theatre(s): ETO
Victories:
15 Air
15 Ground
Assigned Combat Aircraft:
Hurricane II
Spitfire Vb, SN: BL772, MD*B
P-47C-RE, VF*B
P-47D-5-RE, SN: 42-7959, VF*W
P-51B-5-NA, SN: 43-7059, VF*B
P-51B-15-NA, SN: 43-24848, VF*B
P-51D-5-NA, SN: 44-13303, VF*B
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Decoration(s):
Distinguished Service Cross
Silver Star Medal
Distinguished Flying Cross with 8 Oak Leaf Clusters
Air Medal with 20 Oak Leaf Clusters
The Purple Heart
Presidential Unit Citation
American Defense Service Medal
American Campaign Medal
European-African-Middle East Campaign Medal with 3 bronze stars
World War II Victory Medal
Army of Occupation Medal Germany Bar
Prisoners of War Medal
Air Force Longevity Services Ribbon
British Distinguished Flying Cross
British 1939/45 Star
British Air Crew Europe Star
British War Medal 1939/45
Canadian Volunteer Service Medal
Belgian Order of Leopold with Silver palm Leaf
Belgian Croix de Guerre 1939/45 with Palm
French Legion d’Honneur Chevalier
French Croix de Guerre with palm leaf
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SERVICE:
Joined the RCAF. Flew Hurricanes and Spitfires with the RAF.
Transferred to 133 "Eagle" Squadron, RAF. Transferred as 133 Sq.
became the 336th FS/4th FG of the 8th USAAF in September 1942.
Became C.O. of the 336th FS on March 8, 1944. Detached Service to
15th AF to lead Ops. Training missions April 12, 1944 - May 10, 1944.
Hit by flak on his second pass over an enemy airfield, bellied in and
was captured and made a POW on June 20, 1944. Post-war received
MBA from Harvard University. Eventually became head of two
American companys, Goodyear and Hoover, in Europe. Later became
vice-president and group executive at IT&T. Retired to Duxbury, MA.
REMARKS:
Flew the first 8th AF "strafing" sortie. Maj. Goodson held the unofficial title "King of the Strafers" until shot down by AA on June 20,
1944.
Research Assitance: Melanie Brooks
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