John Edward Goldsmith DFC AFC was born at Halifax Nova Scotia. Shortly after the outbreak of war in 1939 Goldsmith joined the Royal Canadian Artillery and in February 1942 transferred to the RCAF.

On 28 December 1942 he graduated as a navigator and soon afterward arrived overseas. Eventually, he was posted to 156 Pathfinder Squadron of Bomber Command.

By 4 November 1944, Flight Lieutenant John Goldsmith had completed 39 dangerous and death defying missions over enemy occupied territory against heavily defended targets and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC).

On 26 August 1944, after completing their bombing of the Baltic seaport of Kiel and returning back to base in Britain, his Lancaster aircraft was shot down by a JU88 enemy night-fighter. Goldsmith and crew of seven had to ditch in the North Sea and await rescue in their lifeboat which after two days of extremely stormy weather was almost disintegrating.

With their situation almost hopeless, their luck changed and they were rescued by a Danish fishing boat. Soon after the rescue, Goldsmith was repatriated to Canada. Goldsmith remained in the RCAF after the war ended.

In the late summer and early autumn of 1947 a detachment of RCAF personnel, flying in a Canso amphibian aircraft was tasked with making magnetic observations at numerous points in the area of the North Magnetic Pole. Goldsmith was responsible for guiding the aircraft through dangerous and uncharted areas in the Arctic Islands.

For his skill and courage in making the mission a success Goldsmith was awarded the Air Force Cross (AFC). At one time he and his wife, the former Margery Doane (of Boston) lived at 345 Fifth Avenue, Lachine Quebec. They had two children; John and Michael.