Major F. W Goodden R.F.C

[Chris]

Hi all

Can anyone help pad out the information i have on this airman (basically CWGC and MIC details). He is listed with the CWGC as dying on 28th January 1917, and is buried in Aldershot Military Cemetery. Was he wounded abroad and died in hospital in the uk? Also can anyone point me in the direction of any details relating to his flying career.

Appreciated

Chris

[Stephen Nulty]

Chris

Found this at theaeordrome.com

"I believe that, in WWI at least, prolonged diving (at steep angles) was more often used in escape than in attack. As for how the D-V made it into service, it's possible the structural weaknesses hadn't been adequately explored before the machine was rushed into service. There was a desperate need for a replacement for the D-III and time was short.

It's interesting to speculate on which would have been the worse course of action: careful testing to ensure that the machine was safe; or rapid deployment to meet immediate needs. Take the SE-5, for example: it first flew in the latter part of 1916, and could have been in service by spring 1917 (certainly, I think, in time for Bloody April). But in January 1917 one of the prototypes broke up in the air, killing Frank Goodden (the test pilot who most credit with initiating the project). The SE-5 program immediately halted in order to research the cause of the crash, and as a result the SE-5 didn't go into service until early summer 1917"

He was a real early pioneer of flying and Google will give you lots of hits on his career, including details of aircraft he designed and built.

His full name was Frank Widenham Goodden, born in Pembroke in 1889.

[Stebie9173]

From the London Gazette 12-2-1915

SUPPLEMENTARY TO REGULAR UNITS OR CORPS.

ROYAL FLYING CORPS.

Military Wing, The undermentioned to be Second Lieutenants (on probation) : —

Dated 13th February, 1915.

Frank Widenham Goodden.

-----

From the London Gazette 3-5-1915

ESTABLISHMENTS.

Royal Flying Corps.

Military Wing.

The appointment of Second Lieutenant F. W. Goodden, Special Reserve, as a Flying

Officer, is antedated to 13th February, 1915.

----

From the London Gazette 25-3-1916

ESTABLISHMENTS .

ROYAL FLYING CORPS.

Military Wing.

The undermentioned appointments are made: —

Flight Commanders—

From Flying Officers—

And to be temporary Captains whilst so employed.

Lieutenant F. W. Goodden, Special Reserve. Dated 15th February, 1916.

Hope this helps,

Steve.

[Stephen Nulty]

Here's Goodden in the cockpit of a prototype SE5

[Chris]

Brilliant stuff Steve and Stephen, gives me plenty to go on, thanks very much

Chris