Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-10-13

The following telegram. received
Tuesday by Mrs. F. E. Goodrich of this
city from her son. Frank, who recently
secured his ticket as pilot of air craft
at Hendon, England, conveyed the
pleasant news that he has received his
commission as Lieutenant in the Royal
Flying Corps:
Gable No. 3 OK %
London 1900 Cit
Mrs. Elizabeth Goodrich.
Expectations fully realized, let
ter following. Love, address mail
Lieutenant F. z. Goodrich, Royal
Flying Corps.
Dover, England
The record Lieut.. Goodrich has made
in his one year of service is a remark
able one. He enlisted with the 4Sth
Royal Highlanders of Toronto, Cana
Ga, 18th Battalion and sailed for Eng
land about one year ago. He took part
in the work of his regiment in France
and Belgium and was made Lance
Corporal for faithful service. On April
,23d he was severely wounded in the
IN England he secured a two months
leave of absence from his regiment and
entered the Hall School of Aviation In
six weeks he had qualified as a flyer
and received his pilots certificate and
now on the recommendation of the
Colonel of his regiment and of his
flight captain, together with the skill
he has shown as an aviator he has Sc
cured a Lieutenant's Commission in
the Royal Flying Corps which gives
him the same rank as a Lieutenant
in the army. The following letter was
written by Lieut.. Goodrich when he
was still in doubt as to whether he
would secure the commission or not.
Royal Flying Corps, Sept. H. 1915.
Brooklands, England.
My dear Mother:
AS you will see, I am at Brooklands
and flying every day. Was up to a
height of 1900 feet this morning, the
highest I've been yet and it was glo-
rious. Am getting on fine and was told
by my flight captain this morning that
he is recommending me for commits
sion. Am enclosing a clipping from
the Aeronautical Journal here. They
got hold of it somehow:
Among the many brevets recently taken
at the Hall school at Hendon, one de-
serves. think. special mention, not on
ly because 1t was very good ticket-but
cumstances preceding the event. Coming
over with the first Canadian contingent,
Corporal Goodrich was on active service
at the front for over two months until he
was wounded on April 23rd, the day the
Germans first used their abominable poi
son gas, in their second bid for Calais.
Corporal Goodrich was severely wounded
near the right groin. and his medical off,
Ger expressed doubt as to whether he
would ever be able to go on active SER
vice again as an infantryman. During
his hospital leave, however, Goodrich got
90 st To aire al siyen aboVe he n obtasnns
his brevet on August 10th. He is now,
hear, trying to join up with the r. F.
c., an effort in which he certainly de-
serves to be successful.
II may not pass by final exams.
II don't I'll have to go back to the regi-
ment. I have not had q university train
ing and therefore am Handicapped great
", but am going to try to overcome this
by showing extra ability in flying. If /
get through my finals I'll deserve credit
and this is not boastipg for you can't
realize what am mp against.
According to reports the Huns are CIV
ing you considerable trouble. I believe
the Americans are just beginning to real
ize what q German promise really
amounts to. "A scrap Of paper They
will learn In time what the pioneers Of
America learned to their cost in regard
to the Indians. The only good ones are
dead ones The same thing applies to
the Germans.
/ was in Hendon the other night when
the 'Tepps' visited London. Hendon II
really part Of London. 10 We had no
trouble seeing them. A usual they hit 81
tcontinusd on Page 2-column .