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 serviceedit
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 Messerschmitt Bf 109s 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]
Congressional Gold Medal awarded to the Tuskegee Airmen in 2006[7]
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]
^Caver, Joseph; Ennels, Jerome A.; Haulman, Daniel Lee (2011). The Tuskegee Airmen: An Illustrated History, 1939–1949. Montgomery: New South Books. p. 394. ISBN978-1588382443. Retrieved February 6, 2020.
Notesedit
^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]
john, ellis, edwards, john, ellis, edwards, 1922, june, 1979, american, aviator, served, with, tuskegee, airmen, during, world, served, 332nd, fighter, group, earned, distinguished, flying, cross, award, also, served, pilot, korean, lieutenant, coloneljohn, el. 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 ColonelJohn Ellis EdwardsJohn Ellis Edwards in a WWII era photoNickname s EllisBorn 1922 05 17 May 17 1922Steubenville Ohio USDiedJune 3 1979 1979 06 03 aged 57 Steubenville Ohio USBuriedUnion CemeteryAllegianceUnited States of AmericaService wbr branchUnited States Army Air ForceYears of service1944 1945 WWII 1950 1953 Korean WarRank2nd Lieutenant Army Air force Lieutenant Colonel Air force Unit99th Fighter Squadron 332nd Fighter GroupAwardsCongressional Gold Medal 2007 Distinguished Flying CrossRelationsBrother Jerome Edwards Contents 1 Early life and education 2 Military service 3 Awards 4 See also 5 Further reading 6 References 6 1 Notes 7 External linksEarly life and education editEdward 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 edit nbsp The Tuskegee Airmen s aircraft had distinctive markings that led to the name Red Tails N 1 nbsp 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 Messerschmitt Bf 109s 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 editDistinguished Flying Cross Air Medal 3 Presidential Unit Citation 3 Congressional Gold Medal awarded to the Tuskegee Airmen in 2006 7 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 editExecutive Order 9981 List of Tuskegee Airmen Military history of African AmericansFurther reading editThe 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 edit Union Cemetery Burial Records Steubenville Jefferson County Ohio interment net Clear Digital Media Inc Retrieved August 10 2020 a b c d Legacy of 2 Tuskegee Airmen From Steubenville Honored The Intelligencer Wheeling News May 9 2020 Retrieved August 10 2020 a b c d e f g Profile of Tuskegee Airmen brothers Jerome and John Ellis Edwards CAF Rise Above January 29 2018 Retrieved August 10 2020 a b John Ellis Edwards Air Force and family photograph albums 1940s 1973 University of Michigan U M Library Retrieved August 10 2020 Rice Markus The Men and Their Airplanes The Fighters Tuskegee Airmen 1 March 2000 13 March 2020 MDVA News and Announcements govdelivery com Maryland Department of Veterans Affairs Retrieved August 10 2020 Rangel Charles B April 11 2006 Tuskegee Airmen Gold Medal Signed Into Law Press Release United States House of Representatives Retrieved November 26 2008 The Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Sewickley Cemetery webCemeteries com Retrieved August 10 2020 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 edit 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 External links editTuskegee Airmen at Tuskegee University Tuskegee Airmen Archives at the University of California Riverside Libraries Tuskegee Airmen Inc Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site U S National Park Service Tuskegee Airmen National Museum Fly 2009 play about the 332d Fighter Group Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title John Ellis Edwards amp oldid 1210457398, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
