Major John Trevor Godfrey, USAAF  (1922 – 1958), World War II Fighter Pilot

Born in Canada, Major Godfrey moved to Woonsocket as a young boy. He was Woonsocket High School’s 1940 class president and a football star. He joined the RCAF in 1941 to avenge the death of his brother, and trained in Spitfires with the RAF. After being commissioned in the USAAC, he joined 4th Fighter Group and became one of the war’s top aces, claiming 18 victories in the air and 18 planes destroyed on the ground.

Godfrey was the wingman of the famous Capt. Don S Gentile.  The Gentile-Godfrey combination was so effective the Göring is said to have sworn he’d give up two squadrons for their capture. Major Godfrey was shot down 8 miles northeast of Nordhausen, Germany, when he was hit by his wingman’s gunfire and bellied in.  He spent several months in a prison camp, but managed to escape just before the end of the war. After the war Major Godfrey took up residence in Coventry, went into the lace business and served as a  R.I. State Senator.  Godfrey was stricken with Lou Gehrig’s Disease and passed away in 1958 at the age of 36.

Induction was accepted by his son, Robert Godfrey.