Daily Kennebec journal., 1916-09-14

Hallowell, Me-, Sept. 13.-(SpeciaD.-
Frank f, Goodrich, the former Hal
lowell boy, who is now in France with
the Royal Flying Corps has been re-
tain and has been given charge of a
complete company which is composed
of 60 men. This news is very welcome
to the people of this town and vicinity
who have been watching with mush
interest the rapid progress of this
plucky young man in the great fight
across the seas. 1t will be remem-
bered that Frank E. Goodrich left
Toronto where he had been some time
after going from Hallowell with the
4Sth Highlanders first contingent. was
wounded at battle of st. Julien, April
1915, and not being able for further
trench duty was allowed to take a
course in aviation. At the end of De-
cember he left for France, where he
has been constantly flying over the
districts where the heaviest of the
fighting has been going on. Early in
the spring he was promoted to the
rank of lieutenant and later was
awarded the Military Cross for extra
ordinary bravery and skill in bringing
his machine safely to ground after his
control wires were shot off in an en-
counter with German machines. Dur
ing the past month Lieutenant Good
rich was further rewarded with the
rank of captain and now has charge OF
a flying squadron on the Somme battle
front. He writes as follows to his
mother, Mrs. A. F. Goodrich at Hal
lowell:
No. 60 Squadron, r. F. c..
B. e. F. France.
August 8, 1916.
Dearest Mother:
1 am sincerely sorry to have kept
you waiting for SO long since my last
brief note, but am sure you will ac-
cept my apologies when 1 explain.
AS you will have noticed, l am no
longer with No. Squadron. On my
return from leave to England l was
informed that I had been promoted to
the rank of captain and given COM
mand Of a flight in this squadron.
While l was agreeably surprised to
receive promotion I regretted leaving
my old squadron. However. we must
take these things cheerfully. l sup
pose.
left No. on the 2sth Of July and
on my arrival here at once took over
command of the flight l have. This
consists Of about 60 men, 20 N. c..
O.'s, (Non commissioned officers) and
seven officers, (Lieutenants) so
you can see have my hands full.
have 81. fighting machines of the lat
est type, so / ought to have some fun
when 1 lead this pack" over the
lines have only had them out
couple of times as yet, as my pilots
are all new to the game and I want
to break them in gradually. I don't
expect to be in France much longer
before going back to England for a
few months rest with some Home
Souadrons" that teaches new pilots to
fiy such as Brookland where I learned
a year ago, II you remember. l was
dining with the General Of the r. F.
C. out here three nights ago and he
told me that I had been out long
time and he would send me home as
soon as we get the Squadron working
we'll, so about September will prob
ably see me in England. intend to
ask for leave to go home then and
think stand a good chance Of getting
it, so don't be surprised If I send you
a cable to say I am coming home for
a month or so.
I did not have time to write you
more than a few lines while in Eng
land as Ernest was bound to cram as
much enjoyment into my leave as
possible so he kept us moving from
one spot to another and I must admit
that it was such a relief to get away
from the war even II only for a week,
that did nothing but enjoy myself.
felt a new man coming back. The
longer I know the Walkers the more
I appreciate having them for friends.
They have been more than friends to
mo and can never repay them for
their hospitality.
I won't say very much about the
war here as you are no doubt follow
ing It closely. Beyond the fact that
we are making progress and pushing
Fritz as hard as ever, there is nothing
to relate.
You wanted to know how Immel-
mann was finally brought down. He
tried his old game Of diving on one of
our machines while it was being en-
gagged by several others. Unfortun-