Lt Col James Goodson

[KilroyCD]

I just found out this evening that Lt Col James Goodson passed on May 1. He was 93. He was laid to rest in Bourne National Cemetery on May 9.
http://boston.cbslocal.com/2014/05/09/decorated-wwii-pilot-laid-to-rest-in-bourne/
http://www.washingtonpost.com/natio...8a9b3e-d14e-11e3-9e25-188ebe1fa93b_story.html

I had the pleasure of meeting "Goody" at Geneseo, NY in the late 1980s or early 1990s then they had a small gathering of 4th Fighter Group pilots at the NWM Airshow. There I got him to sign my copy of his book, "Tulmult in the Clouds". It's a great read. I'm sure I have some photos I took of him at the show. I'll have to dig them out and scan them in so I can post them.

 

[PADDY]

Goody trained at an RAF OTU (conversion to Spitfires I believe) only a mile from me here. Some of the airfield is still used for small private aircraft and micro lights . Many of the buildings and bomb shelters are still there dotted around. Having read Tumult in the Clouds I often think of Goody as I cycle past!

 

[Smithy]

Very sad news. Tumult in the Clouds is a wonderful read. An Eagle and 4th FG member and one of the most dashing of them.

Please do dig out the photos Kilroy, it would be superb to see them.

 

[kampkatz]

Some years ago I ordered a " Maj. James Goodson A-2" which turned out to have been made in Pakistan. Not as authentic as I would have liked(a 2 piece back?!) but it makes a good knock-around jacket.

 

[KilroyCD]

Here are the photos I shot at the National Warplane Museum Airshow in Geneseo, NY in either 1989 or 1990.
In the first photo, from left is Lt. Marvin Arthur 334 Sqn. (pilot of P-51D QP-U "Blondie"), Lt. Joe Higgins 336 Sqn. (pilot of P-51B VF-D "Meiner Kleiner"), Lt. Don Patchen 336 Sqn. (pilot of P-51B VF-A with no nose art), Lt. Col James Goodson 336 Sqn (too many aircraft to list), Lt Frank Speer 334 Sqn. (pilot of P-51B "Turnip Termite").


The second photo shows (from left) Marvin Arthur, Frank Speer, Joe Higgins, James Goodson and Don Patchen in front of Bob Tullius' P-51D Mustang.


The last photo is of Lt. Col Goodson in front of Bob Tullius' P-51D.


I did get a number of other photos, but the lighting wasn't ideal and Lt. Col. Goodson's face is largely in shadow.
Sadly, none of these gentlemen are with us any longer. Lt Marvin Arthur passed in March of 2001, Don Patchen passed in July of 1999, Joe Higgins in January 2012, Frank Speer in March of 2011 and James Goodson earlier this month. I am proud to have had Joe Higgins and Frank Speer as personal friends.

 

[Smithy]

Thank you so much for those Kilroy. Really wonderful pics and what a superb day you must have had! You won't forget that in a hurry

 

[Spitfire]

Great pictures of some very special men one and all. It was actually Len Deightons well written novel Goodbye Mickey Mouse, that re-sparked my interest in WWII flying, pilots and fighteplanes. After that I dug into reading everything I could get hold on of 4th Fighter Group. (my usual way of getting the perspective in a wast subject as WWII and flying: Follow a squadron - or even better: A pilot. I decided that I would know everything there was to know about John Godfrey. And in doing so, I ploughed through a lot of books - including "Tumult in the Clouds" (great book), "1000 Destryed" and finally I managed to get hold of a used copy of Godfreys own book too.
That was a time of B17's and Mustangs too....but after some years I drifted over to RAF, the Spits and the Hurries and Battle of Britain.
Although I never forgot the US pilots, their deeds and their scarifies either. James Goodson was one of them . May he rest in peace. And thank you, Sir.

 

[KilroyCD]

Great pictures of some very special men one and all. It was actually Len Deightons well written novel Goodbye Mickey Mouse, that re-sparked my interest in WWII flying, pilots and fighteplanes. After that I dug into reading everything I could get hold on of 4th Fighter Group. (my usual way of getting the perspective in a wast subject as WWII and flying: Follow a squadron - or even better: A pilot. I decided that I would know everything there was to know about John Godfrey. And in doing so, I ploughed through a lot of books - including "Tumult in the Clouds" (great book), "1000 Destryed" and finally I managed to get hold of a used copy of Godfreys own book too.
That was a time of B17's and Mustangs too....but after some years I drifted over to RAF, the Spits and the Hurries and Battle of Britain.
Although I never forgot the US pilots, their deeds and their scarifies either. James Goodson was one of them . May he rest in peace. And thank you, Sir.

Soren, you sound much like me. I became enamoured with the 4th FG in the early 1980s while reading Jeff Ethell and Gary Fry's book, "Escort to Berlin". Following that was "1000 Destroyed", "Tumult in the Clouds", and anything I could find about the 4th FG. I also liked Len Deighton's "Goodbye Mickey Mouse" and thought it should have been made into a film. I then drifted towards the RAF in the late 1980s, and particularly the Spitfire and the Battle of Britain.

 

[PADDY]

Just cycling past where Goody learned to fly the Spitfire! Thought I'd snap a shot off!

 

[Smithy]

View attachment 14008

Just cycling past where Goody learned to fly the Spitfire! Thought I'd snap a shot off!

Good job Paddy! Probably doesn't look terribly different from 70 or so years ago when Goody was in training.