Fonds 2004/31 - A.E. Godfrey collection

Air Vice Marshal Albert Earl Godfrey, M.C., A.F.C., was a renowned First World War Fighter Ace. He was born in Killarney, Manitoba in 1890 but moved to Vancouver when he was four months old. In January, 1915 he joined the 11th Canadian Mounted Rifles and was soon transferred to the 1st Canadian Pioneer Battalion, going overseas in November 1915. While on duty in France, Godfrey invented an automatic rifle. His invention won for him an audience with General Currie, Canadian Corps Commander, to whom Godfrey expressed his desire to get into the Royal Flying Corps (RFC). After transferring to the RFC, he was commissioned in 1916 to serve as an observer in No. 10 Army Co-operation Squadron. He then joined a fighter squadron and won his wings as a pilot. He won the Military Cross for his distinguished record. Godfrey was transferred to the Royal Air Force (RAF) in Canada in 1918 and with the rank of squadron leader was named commandant of the School of Aerial Fighting at Beamsville. He was awarded the Air Force Cross for his meritorious work there. After service with the RAF in England, he went into the civil aviation branch of the Dominion Government, and in 1922 he entered the Canadian Air Force to take command at Camp Borden. In 1926 he made the first trans-Canada seaplane flight, and in 1928 he made the first airmail flight across Canada. In October 1939, Godfrey became Air Officer Commanding Western Air Command. In 1941 he went to Eastern Air Command for a short time, then returned to Western Air Command. In December 1941 he went to RCAF Headquarters to fill the post of Deputy Inspector General. He retired from service in 1944. Air Vice Marshal Godfrey passed away 1 January 1982.