James Alexander Goodson was born March 24th 1921  in New York city of English parents.  His mother moved to Toronto after his fathers death  Upon graduation he went to England prior to the start of WW2.  He was in Paris when Germany invaded Poland and returned to England and booked passage back to Canada on the S.S. Athenia, the last ship to leave Liverpool prior to war being declared. When off the Hebrides, the passenger ship was struck by a torpedo from a German U-Boat. Of the 112 killed, 88 were women and children fleeing the conflict in Europe. Goodson helped with the survivors and then had to swim to a lifeboat.  They were later rescued by a Norwegian tanker, which returned them to Galway, Ireland.  He was so angered by the attack that he immediately enlisted in the RAF. He was sent to the RCAF in Canada to train.
 
Back in Canada, the RCAF gave Goodson flight training in Dunville, Ontario.  After completing This training in the RCAF on 12 May 1941 he was assigned, as a Sergeant Pilot, to the RAF and sent to an Operational Training Unit, flying Hawker Hurricanes in England. On 6 June 1942 Jim joined his combat squadron, No. 416 (Canadian), flying Spitfires. He saw plenty of action with the squadron, including covering the ill-fated Dieppe landing in August.

On 24 August Jim was transferred to No. 133 (Eagle) Squadron, based at Debden. On 29 September the unit was accepted into the USAAF. Jim was in the 4th Fighter Group, 336th Squadron. As a Lieutenant in the newly formed group he still flew Spitfires until January 1943, when U.S. planes became available. His group switched to P-47 Thunderbolts, a very different plane from the Spitfire, but quite potent in its own right.

Godson's first victory, an Fw-190, on 23 June 1943, was followed by many more. He soon had  15 victories making him a triple ace.  He also  became known as the "King of the Strafers", wrapping up 15 enemy aircraft destroyed on the ground for a total of 30 destroyed. The end of his combat with the 4th Fighter Group was when now a Major and CO of the 336th Squadron, he strafed Neu Brandenburg Airfield in Germany. A 20mm found its mark and he was badly wounded in his legs, but managed to crash-land and hobble off to a nearby wood.

He kept on the run for a week before being captured. During the winter of 1944/45, Jim, along with many other POWs were marched across Germany away from the advancing Red Army, finally arriving at a camp near Nuremberg. Then were on the march again, this time toward Moosburg, at which they were finally liberated.

"Goody" had flown combat in Hurricanes, Spitfires, Thunderbolts and Mustangs, and had 30 enemy aircraft to his credit. His decorations included the Distinguished Service Cross, the Silver Star, the Distinguished Flying Cross with eight Oak Leaf Clusters, the Air Medal with 20 Oak Leaf Clusters, the Distinguished Unit Citation, and the Purple Heart.

This autobiography by Lt. Col James Goodson was published in 1990.  It is in NEW condition and has never been read.  It has been stored since purchased in 1991.  This book is signed by the Author Lt. Col James A. Goodson  and  Lt.  Bob Wehrmann, one of Goodson's wingmen.