John Ellis Edwards

John "Ellis" Edwards (May 17, 1922 – June 3, 1979)[1] was an American aviator who served with the Tuskegee Airmen during World War II. He served in the 332nd Fighter Group and earned the Distinguished Flying Cross award.[2] He also served as a pilot in the Korean War.[3]

Lieutenant Colonel

John Ellis Edwards
John "Ellis" Edwards in a WWII era photo
Nickname(s)Ellis
Born(1922-05-17)May 17, 1922
Steubenville, Ohio, US
DiedJune 3, 1979(1979-06-03) (aged 57)
Steubenville, Ohio, US
Buried
Union Cemetery
AllegianceUnited States of America
Service/branchUnited States Army Air Force
Years of service
  • 1944–1945 WWII
  • 1950–1953 Korean War
Rank
Unit
Awards
RelationsBrother Jerome Edwards

Early life and education

Edward and Willie Edwards were his parents. He had a brother (Jerome) and sister (Gwendolyn). His parents moved to Steubenville, Ohio and he and his siblings attended Steubenville High School.[4]

After high school graduation he and his brother Jerome both attended West Virginia State College. The college became one of the first black colleges to enroll pilots in a Pilot Training Program and both brothers enrolled in the program. Both brothers became Tuskegee Airmen after completing training in Tuskegee.[3] His brother Jerome was killed in a training exercise May 7, 1943 when his P-40 suffered a catastrophic failure upon takeoff.[2] His brother's death was the first for the 332nd Fighter Group.[3]

Military service
The Tuskegee Airmen's aircraft had distinctive markings that led to the name, "Red Tails."[N 1]
F86F Sabre similar to the jet flown by Edwards in the Korean War

Upon completing his training at Tuskegee, Edwards was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant on April 8, 1944. He was assigned to the 99th Fighter Squadron, 332nd Fighter Group. In 1945 he was sent to Italy and assigned to Ramitelli Air Force Base where he and other Tuskegee pilots escorted allied planes on bombing runs. On April 1, 1945 he was acting as squadron section leader, when he shot down two ME-109’s on an escort mission. Edwards was awarded Distinguished flying Cross.[3][2]

Shortly after he was discharged the Korean War began, and he joined the Air Force, serving in the 332nd Fighter Group and flew many combat missions in the F86 Sabre.[3] He held the rank of lieutenant colonel.[6]

After the Korean War he moved to Washington, D.C., and later he moved to Los Angeles, California.[4]

Awards

Edwards hometown, Steubenville, OH is known as the "City of Murals". There is a mural (located along Washington Street in Steubenville) dedicated to him and his brother Jerome.[2] He and his brother also have their names engraved in the Tuskegee Airmen Memorial located in Sewickley Cemetery in Sewickley, Pennsylvania.[8]

See also

Further reading
  • The Tuskegee Airmen: An Illustrated History, 1939–1949[9]
  • "Born to Fly the Skies." Weirton Daily Times (Weirton, W.Va.) 23 February 2013. Web. 17 January 2014.
  • "Tuskegee Airmen Pilot Listing." Tuskegee University, 2014, Web. 17 January 2014.

References
  1. "Union Cemetery – Burial Records Steubenville, Jefferson County, Ohio". interment.net. Clear Digital Media, Inc. Retrieved August 10, 2020.
  2. "Legacy of 2 Tuskegee Airmen From Steubenville Honored". The Intelligencer Wheeling News. May 9, 2020. Retrieved August 10, 2020.
  3. "Profile of Tuskegee Airmen brothers Jerome and John "Ellis" Edwards". CAF Rise Above. January 29, 2018. Retrieved August 10, 2020.
  4. "John Ellis Edwards Air Force and family photograph albums ([1940s]-1973)". University of Michigan. U-M Library. Retrieved August 10, 2020.
  5. Rice, Markus. "The Men and Their Airplanes: The Fighters." Tuskegee Airmen, 1 March 2000.
  6. "13 March 2020 MDVA News and Announcements". govdelivery.com. Maryland Department of Veterans Affairs. Retrieved August 10, 2020.
  7. Rangel, Charles B. (April 11, 2006). "Tuskegee Airmen Gold Medal Signed Into Law". Press Release. United States House of Representatives. Retrieved November 26, 2008.
  8. "The Tuskegee Airmen Memorial". Sewickley Cemetery. webCemeteries.com. Retrieved August 10, 2020.
  9. Caver, Joseph; Ennels, Jerome A.; Haulman, Daniel Lee (2011). The Tuskegee Airmen: An Illustrated History, 1939–1949. Montgomery: New South Books. p. 394. ISBN 978-1588382443. Retrieved February 6, 2020.

Notes
  1. The red markings that distinguished the Tuskegee Airmen included red bands on the noses of P-51s as well as a red rudder; their P-51B and D Mustangs flew with similar color schemes, with red propeller spinners, yellow wing bands and all-red tail surfaces.[5]
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