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E.F. EDWARDS. 2. slight injuries when the Beaufighter aircraft of which he was navigator crashed into another aircraft whilst taking off. Early in October, 1943, he was posted to No. 488 (NZ) Squadron, Bradwell Bay, Essex. At Bradwell Bay he converted to Mosquito aircraft.
F/Sgt. Edwards was the navigator of a Mosquito aircraft which crashed when carrying out evasive action during a searchlight exercise, south of Bradwell Bay, on the 3rd February, 1944, F/Sgt. Edwards losing his life. He was buried in the Brookwood Military Cemetery, Farnborough, with Service Honours. F/Sgt. Watson, J.K. of Palmerston North, the pilot of the machine also lost his life.
5/2/20662 AS2 216 hrs. as Navigator.
Mr. A.W. Edwards (F) Earnsclough, Alexandra, CENTRAL OTAGO (Central Otago underlined)
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391096, Leading Aircraftsman Frank Frederick Edwards. (Underlined) Parents (underlined) Mr. and Mrs. F.W. Edwards of Cambridge.
Frank Edwards was born at Esher (was Asher), England, on the 5th August, 1915, and accompanied his parents to New Zealand in 1920. He received his secondary education at the Cambridge High School. After leaving school, he was apprenticed to the motor trade at Cambridge, and was employed by Wilkinson and Company, Limited at Cambridge when applying for enlistment in the Royal New Zealand Air Force on the 25th September, 1939.
Leading Aircraftsman Edwards was enlisted at Hobsonville on the 23rd October, 1939, and posted to the Railway Workshops at Otahuhu on the 16th November for training as a flight rigger. After completing the course, he served at Hobsonville and Blenheim in this capacity until embarking on the 2nd July, 1941, for the Far East.
Leading Aircraftsman Edwards was posted to No. 205 Squadron at Seletar, Singapore, and was with this Squadron at the outbreak of war with Japan. He was killed on the 17th January, 1942, whne the Catalina flying boat, of which he was a member of the crew, was attacked and sunk by enemy aircraft at Seletar, and he was buried in the Bidadari Cemetery, Singapore.
4/2/1624 A.S.2.
Mrs. M. Edwards (M) Leamington, CAMBRIDGE (underlined)
******* (centred)
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RV/NF 401435 : Sergeant John Alfred EDWARDS. PARENTS : Mr. & Mrs. C. Edwards of Auckland.
John Edwards was born on the 2nd May, 1919, at Auckland. He received his secondary education at Seddon Memorial Technical College, Auckland, where he gained his Senior Free Place. His main interests in sport were cycling and wrestling. At the time of his enlistment with the R.N.Z.A.F. he was employed as a metal worker by D. Mount, Newmarket, Auckland.
Sergeant Edwards applied for enlistment with the ground staff just before the War, but his application was unsuccessful. On the 29th November, 1939, he applied for training as an air gunner, and entered the Initial Training Wing, Levin, on the 4th June, 1940. On the 1st July he was posted to No. 1 Air Observers' School, Ohakea, where - on the 18th October, 1940 - he was awarded his air observer's badge. He was promoted to Sergeant on the 26th of the same month. On the 8th November, 1940, he embarked on the "Manganui" for Egypt.
Shortly after his arrival in Egypt Sgt. Edwards was posted to No. 257 Operational Training Unit, where he trained on Wellington aircraft. Early in April he proceeded to No. 70 Squadron. With this Squadron, as navigator on Wellington aircraft, he took part in 10 operational flights, the targets including motor transport on the Bardia Road and Benghazi. On the 24th June, 1941, he was posted to No. 203 Squadron. With this squadron, as navigator on Wellington aircraft, he took part in a further 24 operational flights, the targets including patrols off the Turkish Coast and Rhodes Island, supply missions to Cyprus, air/sea rescue searches and anti-submarine patrols.
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J.A. EDWARDS. -2-
On the 10th October, 1941, on his 34th operational flight, Sergeant Edwards was a member of the crew of a Wellington bomber aircraft, which took off on a reconnaissance flight over the Mediterranean. The aircraft failed to return to its base, and all the members ofthe crew, including Sergeant Edwards, were reported missing. Subsequently, his death was officially presumed to have occurred at sea without trace on the 10th October, 1941.
5/3/2420 AS2 282 hours as Air Gunner and Air Navigator.
Mr. C. Edwards (F) Taylor Road Mangere AUCKLAND SE5.
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RAF. 36151 Flying Officer John Ernest EDWARDS. Mother: Mrs. M.E. Edwards of AUCKLAND.
John Edwards was born at Greymouth on May 8th, 1914, and was educated at the Auckland Grammar School and the Seddon Memorial Technical College. At school he was a member of the First 15 and First 11, and was particularly interested in running and yachting, being a member of the New Zealand Royal Yacht Squadron for some years. Prior to his acceptance in the Royal Air Force on a Short Commission on August 23rd 1938 he was employed as a clerk in the Native Department, Auckland.
Flying Officer Edwards obtained his preliminary training with the Auckland Aero Club and at the Royal New Zealand Air Force Flying Training School, Wigram during 1937. Subsequently embarking for the United Kingdom on the "Akaroa" on July 18, 1938.
On arrival in England Flying Officer Edwards was posted to No. 1 Depot, Uxbridge, being transferred to No. 40 Squadron, Abingdon, Berkshire, for flying duties shortly afterwards. On September 2, 1939, he moved with No. 40 Squadron Advanced Air Striking Force to France as the pilot of a Blenheim bomber, but the Squadron later returned to the United Kingdom and was based at Whyton, Huntingdonshire, for Bombing operations over enemy territory. He was promoted to the rank of Flying Officer in March, 1940.
On May 15 nine aircraft from No. 40 Squadron were ordered to attack targets in Belgium held by the enemy, two of the aircraft failing to return. Flying Officer Edwards was the pilot of one of the missing bombers. Subsequently it was confirmed by the International Red Cross taht he was buried in Communal Cemetery, Ecaussinnes d'Enghien (Hainaut) Belgium.
5/2/326 A.S.2 No Logbook.
Mrs M.E. Edwards (M), 44 Ardmore Road, AUCKLAND (underlined)