John Ellis Edwards (1922 - 1979)

Born 17 May 1922 in Steubenville, Jefferson, Ohio, United States

Died 3 Jun 1979 at age 57 in Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States

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Biography

John Edwards is a Military Veteran.
Served in the United States Army Air Force 100th Fighter Squadron 1944-1946
Tuskegee Airman flying Ace

John was born in 1922 in Steubenville, Ohio. He was the son of Edward Edwards and Willie Thompson. His family had moved from Alabama and established residence in Steubenville. By 1930 was working as a janitor in a local bank. ^[1]. John attended Steubenville High School, commonly known in the area as "Big Red". He enrolled in West Viginia State College in 1937, following in his big brother's footsteps. His desire had been to study dentistry, but his brother convinced him that they should pilot plains. Both signed up for the aviation program at West Virginia State College. This was one of the first colleges to participate in FDR's Civilian Pilot Training program, which offered opportunities to those who otherwise not have been able to train as pilots. Upon completion of the Civilian Pilot Training, both were sent to advanced flight training at Tuskegee Institute.

John earned his commission as 2nd lieutenant in Augst of 1944.^[2] He was stationed at Ramitelli Air Force Base in Italy. He seved as the squadron section leader on a bombing and strafing mission on May 1, 1945. He is credited with shooting down 2 German Messerschmitts, earning him the Distinguished Flying Cross. He also earned Air Medals with Oak Leaf Clusters and a Presidential Unit Cititation with the 332nd Fighter Group.

John went on to fly combat missions during the Korean War as well. When he left the military, he worked as a radio announcer. He passed away in 1979, Los Angeles, California. He is buried in Steubenville, Ohio.

In 2007, he received the Congressional Gold Medal.

Sources

1. ↑ "United States Census, 1930," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X4WL-572 : accessed 5 May 2021), Jerome Edwards in household of Edward Edwards, Steubenville, Jefferson, Ohio, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 30, sheet 3B, line 83, family 63, NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 1825; FHL microfilm 2,341,559.
2. ↑ Herald Star, 15 Sept 2019:Tuskegee Airmen mural in downtown Steubenville takes flight.

• "United States Census, 1930," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X4WL-57G : accessed 5 May 2021), Ellis Edwards in household of Edward Edwards, Steubenville, Jefferson, Ohio, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 30, sheet 3B, line 85, family 63, NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 1825; FHL microfilm 2,341,559.