RNZAF Biographies of Deceased Personnel: 1939 - 1945, Ea - Gw

R.B. EDE. 2. of mine-laying operations over areas off the Dutch Coast; and Bordeaux, France. Late in January, 1944, he was posted to No. 7 Squadron (of the Pathfinder Force) Oakington, Cambridgeshire. Whilst with this squadron he underwent a short course on Lancaster aircraft at Upwood, Huntingdonshire, returning to Oakington in February. From the latter base he took part in 40 operational flights, the targets including Leipzig, Stuttgart (6), Frankfurt (2), Berlin, Essen and Kiel (2), in Germany; and Tergnier, Laon, Nantes, Le Mans (2), Trappes, Caen and Franceville, in France. He was awarded the Pathfinder Badge on July 7, 1944.

On the 13th September, 1944, P/O Ede was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for meritorious service, the citation stating:- "Pilot Officer Ede has completed many successful operations, during which he has displayed high skill, fortitude and devotion to duty."

On the night of the 25/26th August, 1944, P/O Ede was air bomber of a Lancaster bomber aircraft which took off to attack the target of Russelsheim, Germany. This was his 44th operational flight. The aircraft failed to return to its abse and all the members of the crew, including P/O Ede, were reported missing. Later, information received from the International Red Cross Committee revealed that all the members of the crew, with the exception of P/O Ede, had been capture by the enemy and were prisoners of war. A member of the crew was reported to have stated that P/O Ede had bailed out 20 miles South-West of Frankfurt, and that the Germans had reported him dead. Captured German documents later disclosed that the aircraft crashed 1 kilometer North-West of the town of Budenback. The only other New Zealand member of the crew was A/F/L Strong, D.F.C (Pilot) of Auckland.

In April 1948 information received from the Missing Research and Inquiry Service revealed that P/C Ede was buried in the Pleizenhausen Cemetery and that on the cessation of hostilities his body was re-interred in the Rheinberg British Military Cemetery.

5/2/8003 AS2 594 hrs. as air bomber.

Mr. E. Mc. Ede (F) 30 Wellington Street, ASHBURTON (underlined)

RV/NF 416009 : Flight Sergeant Frnak Shepley EDGAR. PARENTS : Mr. & Mrs. M.R. Edgar of Hikurangi.

Frank Edgar was born on the 12th June, 1919, at Hoghton, Lancashire, England. He received his secondary education at Te Aroha District High School. His interests in sport included rugby and tennis. After leaving school he was employed in Te Aroha, first as a garage assistant, and from 1935 to 1937 as a shop assistant. From 1937 until the date of his entry into the R.N.Z.A.F. he was employed as a shop assistant by J.W. Court Ltd., Whangarei.

F/Sgt. Edgar made application for aircrew training on the 16th September, 1940, and was enlisted at Levin on the 2nd November, 1941. On the completion of his intial training, he embarked for Canada on the 28th December, 1941.

F/Sgt. Edgar arrived in Canada on the 20th January, 1942, and on the 5th of the following month was posted to No. 2 Wireless School, Calgary, Alberta. On the 27th September, 1942, he proceeded to No. 3 Bombing and Gunnery School, MacDonald, Manitoba, where - on the 18th December, 1942, - he was awarded his air gunner's badge and promoted to Sergeant. He was promoted to Flight Sergeant on the 18th June, 1943. On the 20th December, 1942, he was posted to No. 1 "Y" Depot, Halifax, Nova Scotia, for embarkation to the United Kingdom.

Shortly after his arrival in the United Kingdom, F/Sgt Edgar was posted to No. 7 Air Gunners' School, Stormy Down, Glamorganshire, for a refresher course. On the 3rd March, 1943, he was posted to No. 11 Operational Training Unit, Westcott, Buckinghamshire, where he crewed up and completed his training on Wellington aircraft. In May he proceeded to No. 1483 Flight, Marham, Norfolk, and on completion of his

F.S. EDGAR 2. course he was posted to No. 1651 Conversion Unit, Waterbeach, Cambridgeshire, where he converted to Stirling bomber aircraft. On the 20th June, 1943, he was posted to No. 15 Squadron, Oakington, Cambridgeshire. From this base, as rear gunner on Stirling aircraft, he carried out ten operational flights, the targets including Cologne, Aachen, Hamburg (3), Essen, Remscheid, Gelsenkirchen and Mulheim, in Germany. He also took part in one minelaying operation off the Frisian Islands. In August he was posted to No. 622 Squadron, Mildenhall, Suffolk, and from this base, as rear gunner on Stirling aircraft, he carried out a further five operational flights, the targets including Hamburg and Nuremburg, in Germany, and Turin (2) in Italy.

On the night of the 23/24th August, 1943, F/Sgt. Edgar was rear gunner of a Stirling aircraft which took off on air operations to Berlin. The aircraft failed to return to base and all the members of the crew, including F/Sgt. Edgar, were reported missing. This was his 15th operational flight. Later information received through the International Red Cross Committee from a German source stated that F/Sgt. Edgar had lost his life. He was reclassified to missing, believed killed in action. Subsequently his death was officially presumed.

Two other R.N.Z.A.F. members of the crew of the aircraft were - F/Sgt. N.C. Rollett of Matamata and F/Sgt. R.G. Boyd of Hawkes Bay.

5/15/2249 AS2 249 hrs. as air gunner. Mr. M.R. Edgar (F) View Road HIKURANGI (underlined)

NZ417275 Flying Officer Bernard Frederick EDGE. Parents. Mr. & Mrs. J.B. Edge of Onehunga.

Bernard Edge was born on the 6th October, 1921 at Onehunga, Auckland. He received his secondary education at the Otahuhu Technical High School, where he gained his University Entrance and Higher Leaving Certificate. He later studied at the Auckland Training College, where in December, 1940 he gained his Teachers "C" Certificate. He was a member of the 1st XV at High School, and other sports in which he was interested were cricket, baseball and swimming. Prior to entering the Training College, he was employed in a clerical position by Bond and Bond Ltd., Auckland.

Flying Officer Edge applied for air crew training on the 11th November, 1940, and was enlisted at Levin on the 28th December, 1941. On the completion of his initial training he embarked for Canada on the 2nd March, 1942.

Shortly after his arrival in Canada Flying Officer Edge was posted on the 12th April, 1942 to No. 4 A.O. School, London, Ontario, where on the 14th August, 1942 he was awarded his sir observer badge and commissioned in the rank of Pilot Officer. He was promoted to Flying Officer on the 14th of Febuary, 1943.

Early in October, 1942 he embarked for the United Kingdom.

Flying Officer Edge arrived at No. 3 Personnel Reception Center Bournemouth on the 18th October, 1942, and on the 15th December, was posted to 9 (Observer) Advanced Flying Unit Penrhos, Wales. On the 25th March, 1943, he was posted to No. 11 Operational Training Unit, Westcolt, Buckinghamshire, where he crewed up and completed his operational training on Wellington Bomber aircraft. In June he proceeded to No. 1657 Conversion Unit, Stradishall, Suffolk, for a conversion course on Stirling aircraft. On the 19th July, 1943, he was posted to No. 214 Squadron, based at the nearby satellite aerodrome of Ghedburg. On the 25th of the same month he took part in an air sea rescue search. Late in August he proceeded to the Navigation Training Unit, Upwood, Huntingdonshire, for a course on Lancaster bomber aircraft. At the conclusion of the course he was posted to No. 7 Squadron, Gakington, Cambridgeshire.

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On the night of the 3rd/4th September, 1943, Flying Officer Edge was a member of the crew of a Lancaster bomber aircraft which took off on a raid on Berlin. The aircraft failed to return to its base, and all the members of the crew including Flying Officer Edge were classified missing. This was his first operational flight. Subsequently his death was officially presumed. There were four other New Zealanders in the crew; Warrant Officer T.H. Hatchard of Wellington, Flying Officer F.T. Brosnahan of Wellington, Flight Sergeant G.S. Dougherty of Hamilton, and Flight Sergeant L.A. Squire of Kawakawa.

5/2/6845 AS2 252 hours of Navigator.

Mr. J. Edge (F) 72 Princess Street, Onehunga.