George E. Goodman, WWII, British Flying ACE.
George E. Goodman was born In Haifa,1920, then under British military occupation. Haifa was in a loosely defined, newly created, administrative territory soon to be officially called British Mandate Palestine.
His father, Sidney Charles Goodman was British. Goodman worked for the British sponsored Palestine Railways as an engineer. He met and married Bida Lerner. She was the daughter of Jewish Zionist immigrants, originally from Bessarabia. Her family were founding members of the, Rothschild sponsored, Zichron Yaakov agricultural settlement. Sidney and Bida were married in St. Luke's church in Haifa. It is unknown if she converted. George was raised as a Christian with knowledge of his Christian/Jewish religious and cultural backgrounds.
In the 1930's, George was sent to Highgate School in London to continue his education. His family and sisters remained in Haifa. At Highgate, he was part of the Officer Training Corp. As WWII neared, he joined the Royal Air Force.
September 2, 1939, Goodman was commissioned an Acting Pilot Officer and sent for flight training. May 1, 1940, Goodman was a certified Hawker Hurricane fighter pilot. He was assigned to No. 1 Squadron of the RAF engaged in the Battle of France.
Between May 1 and late June 1940, Goodman shot down two German Heinkel He 111s and shared in downing a Messerschiitt Bf110. With the French defeat his unit returned to Britain.
July 10, 1940 he was confirmed as a Pilot Officer.
The Battle of Britain:
The Battle of Britain was an air war that defeated German plans to invade Britain. Winston Churchill characterized the pilots who fought in the battle, "Never was so much owed by so many to so few."
During the battle, Goodman had shot down a German a ME Bf 109, a He 111, a Bf 110, shared in a Bf 110, and a Dornier Do 17. Sept. 6, he was shot down and moderately injured. Returning to service in early October, he downed a Do 17 and shared in the kill of a Jukers Ju88.
Goodman was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, Nov. 26, 1940.
He was posted to No. 73 Squadron stationed in Libya near Tobruk. Feb. 1941 he shot down an Italian Fiat CR 42 and a Me 110 before being shot down himself but landing behind British lines.
Goodman was promoted to Flying Officer,Feb. 28, 1941.
Shortly afterwards, he destroyed a Junkers Ju 87, shared in a Henschel Hs 126 and another Junkers Ju 87.
In April, he was granted a short leave to visit his sisters in Haifa.
June 14, 1941, George Goodman was shot down and killed outside of Tobruk by flak.
Goodman was buried in the Knightsbridge War Cemetery, Acroma, Libya (grave 10.C.21)
Goodman is controversial today. His nationality is claimed by Israeli and British sources. The Battle of Britain memorial and association recognizes flyers from many British countries and territories but declines to recognize Goodman as having been from Palestine. They do recognize him as British.
George E. Goodman was born In Haifa,1920, then under British military occupation. Haifa was in a loosely defined, newly created, administrative territory soon to be officially called British Mandate Palestine.
His father, Sidney Charles Goodman was British. Goodman worked for the British sponsored Palestine Railways as an engineer. He met and married Bida Lerner. She was the daughter of Jewish Zionist immigrants, originally from Bessarabia. Her family were founding members of the, Rothschild sponsored, Zichron Yaakov agricultural settlement. Sidney and Bida were married in St. Luke's church in Haifa. It is unknown if she converted. George was raised as a Christian with knowledge of his Christian/Jewish religious and cultural backgrounds.
In the 1930's, George was sent to Highgate School in London to continue his education. His family and sisters remained in Haifa. At Highgate, he was part of the Officer Training Corp. As WWII neared, he joined the Royal Air Force.
September 2, 1939, Goodman was commissioned an Acting Pilot Officer and sent for flight training. May 1, 1940, Goodman was a certified Hawker Hurricane fighter pilot. He was assigned to No. 1 Squadron of the RAF engaged in the Battle of France.
Between May 1 and late June 1940, Goodman shot down two German Heinkel He 111s and shared in downing a Messerschiitt Bf110. With the French defeat his unit returned to Britain.
July 10, 1940 he was confirmed as a Pilot Officer.
The Battle of Britain:
The Battle of Britain was an air war that defeated German plans to invade Britain. Winston Churchill characterized the pilots who fought in the battle, "Never was so much owed by so many to so few."
During the battle, Goodman had shot down a German a ME Bf 109, a He 111, a Bf 110, shared in a Bf 110, and a Dornier Do 17. Sept. 6, he was shot down and moderately injured. Returning to service in early October, he downed a Do 17 and shared in the kill of a Jukers Ju88.
Goodman was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, Nov. 26, 1940.
He was posted to No. 73 Squadron stationed in Libya near Tobruk. Feb. 1941 he shot down an Italian Fiat CR 42 and a Me 110 before being shot down himself but landing behind British lines.
Goodman was promoted to Flying Officer,Feb. 28, 1941.
Shortly afterwards, he destroyed a Junkers Ju 87, shared in a Henschel Hs 126 and another Junkers Ju 87.
In April, he was granted a short leave to visit his sisters in Haifa.
June 14, 1941, George Goodman was shot down and killed outside of Tobruk by flak.
Goodman was buried in the Knightsbridge War Cemetery, Acroma, Libya (grave 10.C.21)
Goodman is controversial today. His nationality is claimed by Israeli and British sources. The Battle of Britain memorial and association recognizes flyers from many British countries and territories but declines to recognize Goodman as having been from Palestine. They do recognize him as British.
George E. Goodman, WWII, British Flying ACE.
George E. Goodman was born In Haifa,1920, then under British military occupation. Haifa was in a loosely defined, newly created, administrative territory soon to be officially called British Mandate Palestine.
His father, Sidney Charles Goodman was British. Goodman worked for the British sponsored Palestine Railways as an engineer. He met and married Bida Lerner. She was the daughter of Jewish Zionist immigrants, originally from Bessarabia. Her family were founding members of the, Rothschild sponsored, Zichron Yaakov agricultural settlement. Sidney and Bida were married in St. Luke's church in Haifa. It is unknown if she converted. George was raised as a Christian with knowledge of his Christian/Jewish religious and cultural backgrounds.
In the 1930's, George was sent to Highgate School in London to continue his education. His family and sisters remained in Haifa. At Highgate, he was part of the Officer Training Corp. As WWII neared, he joined the Royal Air Force.
September 2, 1939, Goodman was commissioned an Acting Pilot Officer and sent for flight training. May 1, 1940, Goodman was a certified Hawker Hurricane fighter pilot. He was assigned to No. 1 Squadron of the RAF engaged in the Battle of France.
Between May 1 and late June 1940, Goodman shot down two German Heinkel He 111s and shared in downing a Messerschiitt Bf110. With the French defeat his unit returned to Britain.
July 10, 1940 he was confirmed as a Pilot Officer.
The Battle of Britain:
The Battle of Britain was an air war that defeated German plans to invade Britain. Winston Churchill characterized the pilots who fought in the battle, "Never was so much owed by so many to so few."
During the battle, Goodman had shot down a German a ME Bf 109, a He 111, a Bf 110, shared in a Bf 110, and a Dornier Do 17. Sept. 6, he was shot down and moderately injured. Returning to service in early October, he downed a Do 17 and shared in the kill of a Jukers Ju88.
Goodman was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, Nov. 26, 1940.
He was posted to No. 73 Squadron stationed in Libya near Tobruk. Feb. 1941 he shot down an Italian Fiat CR 42 and a Me 110 before being shot down himself but landing behind British lines.
Goodman was promoted to Flying Officer,Feb. 28, 1941.
Shortly afterwards, he destroyed a Junkers Ju 87, shared in a Henschel Hs 126 and another Junkers Ju 87.
In April, he was granted a short leave to visit his sisters in Haifa.
June 14, 1941, George Goodman was shot down and killed outside of Tobruk by flak.
Goodman was buried in the Knightsbridge War Cemetery, Acroma, Libya (grave 10.C.21)
Goodman is controversial today. His nationality is claimed by Israeli and British sources. The Battle of Britain memorial and association recognizes flyers from many British countries and territories but declines to recognize Goodman as having been from Palestine. They do recognize him as British.
George E. Goodman was born In Haifa,1920, then under British military occupation. Haifa was in a loosely defined, newly created, administrative territory soon to be officially called British Mandate Palestine.
His father, Sidney Charles Goodman was British. Goodman worked for the British sponsored Palestine Railways as an engineer. He met and married Bida Lerner. She was the daughter of Jewish Zionist immigrants, originally from Bessarabia. Her family were founding members of the, Rothschild sponsored, Zichron Yaakov agricultural settlement. Sidney and Bida were married in St. Luke's church in Haifa. It is unknown if she converted. George was raised as a Christian with knowledge of his Christian/Jewish religious and cultural backgrounds.
In the 1930's, George was sent to Highgate School in London to continue his education. His family and sisters remained in Haifa. At Highgate, he was part of the Officer Training Corp. As WWII neared, he joined the Royal Air Force.
September 2, 1939, Goodman was commissioned an Acting Pilot Officer and sent for flight training. May 1, 1940, Goodman was a certified Hawker Hurricane fighter pilot. He was assigned to No. 1 Squadron of the RAF engaged in the Battle of France.
Between May 1 and late June 1940, Goodman shot down two German Heinkel He 111s and shared in downing a Messerschiitt Bf110. With the French defeat his unit returned to Britain.
July 10, 1940 he was confirmed as a Pilot Officer.
The Battle of Britain:
The Battle of Britain was an air war that defeated German plans to invade Britain. Winston Churchill characterized the pilots who fought in the battle, "Never was so much owed by so many to so few."
During the battle, Goodman had shot down a German a ME Bf 109, a He 111, a Bf 110, shared in a Bf 110, and a Dornier Do 17. Sept. 6, he was shot down and moderately injured. Returning to service in early October, he downed a Do 17 and shared in the kill of a Jukers Ju88.
Goodman was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, Nov. 26, 1940.
He was posted to No. 73 Squadron stationed in Libya near Tobruk. Feb. 1941 he shot down an Italian Fiat CR 42 and a Me 110 before being shot down himself but landing behind British lines.
Goodman was promoted to Flying Officer,Feb. 28, 1941.
Shortly afterwards, he destroyed a Junkers Ju 87, shared in a Henschel Hs 126 and another Junkers Ju 87.
In April, he was granted a short leave to visit his sisters in Haifa.
June 14, 1941, George Goodman was shot down and killed outside of Tobruk by flak.
Goodman was buried in the Knightsbridge War Cemetery, Acroma, Libya (grave 10.C.21)
Goodman is controversial today. His nationality is claimed by Israeli and British sources. The Battle of Britain memorial and association recognizes flyers from many British countries and territories but declines to recognize Goodman as having been from Palestine. They do recognize him as British.
Gravesite Details
Flying Officer (Pilot), Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Age: 20.
