[3] Godfrey served as an observer/gunner in both 10 and 25 Squadrons, and tallied his first win by driving a Roland fighter down out of control on 16 October 1916.

Then, still using Nieuport 17 serial number B1684, between 1 June and 14 August 1917, he ran off a string of eleven wins—nine versus Albatros D.III fighters and two against two-seater reconnaissance machines.

For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in constantly attacking hostile machines at close range, regardless of personal risk or of their being in superior numbers."

By the beginning of World War II, he was serving at the Imperial Defence College as a Group Captain.

In September 1944, having been promoted to Vice Air Marshall and in the role of RCAF Inspector General, he took part in a convoy protection patrol in Consolidated B-24 Liberator.

The bomber spotted German submarine U-422 and attacked, with Godfrey becoming the highest ranking officer to directly engage the enemy during the war.

[5] Godfrey ran as the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation's candidate in the February 1945 Grey North by-election against General Andrew McNaughton who had been appointed Minister of Defence the previous November and was contesting the by-election for the Liberal Party of Canada.