Donald R. Goodrich was born at Marshall, Michigan, on October 17, 1894. He served as a flying cadet from March 30, 1918, until November 8, 1918, when he was appointed a second lieutenant (temporary), Air Service. He was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Air Service of the Regular Army on July 1, 1920.
SERVICE
He received his flying training at Kelly Field, Texas; Camp Dick, Texas; and Eberts Field, Arkansas, until he was commissioned in November 1918. He then was assigned to Rockwell Field, California, until June 1919 when he moved to Kelly Field, Texas. The following August he joined the 90th Aero Squadron at Eagle Pass, Texas, and in September 1920 transferred to Del Rio, Texas, with this organization.
His next assignment was to Langley Field, Virginia, where he served with the 14th Bombardment Squadron until November 1921, when he joined the 3d Attack Group at Kelly Field, Texas. From February to May 1922 he was Recruiting Officer at Kelly Field, Texas, and then served a brief tour of duty in the Industrial War Plans Division, Office of the Chief of the Air Service, Washington, D.C. In July 1922 he moved to Middletown, Pennsylvania, for service at the Middletown Air Intermediate Depot, and in May 1923 was ordered to Detroit, Michigan, as Procurement Planning Representative in charge of the Detroit District Office.
In February 1927 he became Flight Adjutant and Supply Officer, 2d Observation Squadron, Camp Nichols, Rizal, Philippine Islands. Returning to the United States, he proceeded to Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, in September 1929, as Engineering and Operations Officer of the Air Corps detachment there, until the following November when he moved to Buffalo, New York, as Procurement Planning Representative. He was assigned to the Army Industrial College, Washington, D.C., in August 1930, and was graduated in June 1931. The next month he was named Adjutant and Agent Finance Officer, Fairfield Air Depot, Patterson Field, Fairfield, Ohio, serving in this capacity until May 1934 when he again became Procurement Planning Representative, Buffalo District, Buffalo, New York.
He was assigned to the Air Corps Tactical School, Maxwell Field, Alabama, in August 1937, and upon graduation in June 1938 proceeded to Washington, D.C., where he became Assistant Chief, Personnel Division, Training Group, Office of the Chief of the Air Corps. He served simultaneously as Liaison Officer to the Adjutant’s Office. He became Executive Officer of the Military Personnel Division, Office of the Chief of the Air Corps, in July 1940, and was named Commanding Officer of the III Air Service Area Command at Atlanta, Georgia, in August 1942. The following January he was ordered to the European Theater of Operations in this same capacity.
In March 1943 he became Chief of Staff of the VIII Air Force Service Command in the European Theater of Operations, and the following August assumed command of the 8th Strategic Air Depot Area in the European Theater of Operations. In March 1944 he was named Commanding General of the VIII Air Force Service Command in the same theater and in January 1945, having returned to the United States, he was assigned to command the San Antonio Air Technical Service Command. In March 1945, he was assigned to Headquarters, Army Air Forces, Washington, D.C., with station at Coral Gables, Florida.
General Goodrich suffered a fatal heart attack on July 12, 1945, at the AAF Regional Hospital, Maxwell Field, Alabama.
He was rated a Command Pilot, Combat Observer, and Aircraft Observer.
PROMOTIONS
Private 1st Class, Aviation Section, Signal Corps, Enlisted Reserve Corps, March 30, 1918, to November 7, 1918; Second Lieutenant, Air Service, U.S.A., November 8, 1918, to October 5, 1920; Second Lieutenant, Air Service, July 1, 1920; First Lieutenant, July 1, 1920; discharged as First Lieutenant and appointed Second Lieutenant on December 15, 1922; First Lieutenant, September 17, 1924; Captain, August 1, 1935; Major (temporary), February 1, 1939; Major, July 1, 1940; Lieutenant Colonel (temporary), July 15, 1941; Lieutenant Colonel, A.U.S., September 15, 1941; Colonel, A.U.S., February 1, 1942; Colonel, A.U.S. (Air Corps), March 1, 1942; Lieutenant Colonel, January 11, 1943; Brigadier General, A.U.S., February 22, 1944.
DECORATIONS
He was awarded (posthumously) the Distinguished Service Medal in 1945 with the following citation:
“Upon Brigadier General Donald R. Goodrich, serving in the highly responsible position of Commanding General VIII Air Force Service Command, from March to December, 1944, was imposed the very important duty of the maintenance and supply of the fighters and bombers employed by the Eighth Air Force in its unceasing air operations against Germany. With foresight and unusual ability, he trained and reassigned his personnel with such effect that an ever increasing load of work was efficiently accomplished without an increase of manpower. Although faced with a constantly growing strength in new combat planes, modifications of which were necessary to improve their combat efficiency, and restoring to service the Fortresses, Liberators, Thunderbolts, Lightings, and Mustangs which were constantly being blasted by flak, ripped by shells and riddled by bullets, he met every problem with such efficiency and dispatch that a continuous reduction in grounded aircraft was realized. Immediately after the invasion of the continent, he established facilities in Normandy which made possible the return of battle-damaged aircraft by air to the United Kingdom for major repairs. General Goodrich contributed in large part to the successes achieved by the Eighth Air Force.”
In addition, he received the following awards:
Legion of Merit
World War I Victory Medal
American Defense Service Medal
American Campaign Medal
European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal
World War II Victory Medal