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Hughie Edwards No Photo Available Died : 5 / 8 / 1982

Air Commodore Sir Hughie Edwards VC KCMG CB DSO OBE DFC (deceased) Hughie Idwal Edwards was the son of a Welsh emigrant couple who settled in Freemantle, Western Australia in 1910. Born on 1st August 1914 at Freemantle and educated at White Gum Valley School and Freemantle High. In 1934 he enlisted in the local garrison artillery and in July 1935 transferred to the RAAF receiving his wings in June 1936. On 21st August 1936 he was commisioned in the RAF and posted to No.15 Sqn at Abingdon to fly Hawker Hind bombers. The following March he was posted to Bicester (No.60 Sqn) to fly Bristol Blenheim Mk.Is. In August 1938 Edwwards received extensive injuries through a crash in the Blenheim, which left him in hospital for nine months and leaving him paralysed below the knee in his right leg. He returned to flying duties in February 1941 at Horsham St Faith, flying Blenheim Mk.IVs. In May he was apppointed CO of No.105 Sqn at Swanton Morley. On June 15th he led six Blenheim on a low level attack of enemy shipping, going in at 50ft, severely damaged a 4,000 ton ship for which he was subsequently awarded the DFC. On 4th July 1941, flying a Blenheim Mk.IV, V6028 GB-D, with his crew Pilot Officer Ramsay (navigator) and Sgt G Quinn DFM (air gunner), he led fifteen Blenheims flying at 50-100ft across the North Sea, twelve aircraft eventually crossed the German border and headed towards Bremen, flying in excellent visibility, a mixed blessing for the bomber crews. They ran into a wall of tracer and shellfire on their approach to their target. Flying at between 50-100ft, they flew through flak, balloon cable and telephone wires before releasing their bombs over the centre of the dock area. Several aircraft were lost and the remainder suffered various degrees of damage, and many of the survivors returned home trailing telegraph wires around wings and tailplanes. On 22nd July, Edwards was awarded a Victoria Cross for : displaying the highest possible standard of gallantry and determination. whilst of his crew, Ramsay received the DFC and Quinn a bar to the DFM. There followed a short detachment to Malta, where he led attacks on Axis shipping in the Mediterranean before participating in a lecture tour of the USA. In 1942 on his return to the UK he married, before joining No.105 Sqn to fly the Mosquito, leading them on numerous ddaylight raids against the enemy. On 5th January 1943 he was awarded the DSO and in February was promoted to Group Captain. In December 1944 he was posted to the Far East, becoming Group Captain, Bombing Operations at Ceylon HQ, Kandy, and was then appointed to SEAC as SASO and then followed various senior staff posts in Malaya and Batavia, resulting in the OBE in February 1947. Remaining in the RAF, he returned to Bracknell Staff College and became SPSO at 21 Group HQ in 1946-49. Group Captain Edwards was Station Commander at Wattisham 1953-56 before moving to Habbaniya as Commanding Officer until 1958. Promoted to Air Commodore in January 1958, he was appointed Commandant of the Central Fighter Establishment at West Raynham and received a CB in the 1959 New Years Honours. In March 1960 he was made and ADC to HM Queen Elizabeth, and in 1962 became Director of Establishments at the Air Ministry. He retired on 30th September 1963. Returning to Australia, he was knighted as a KCMG in 1974 and became Governor of West Australia until ill health forced him to resign on 2nd April 1975. He died on 5th August 1982.

Items Signed by Air Commodore Sir Hughie Edwards VC KCMG CB DSO OBE DFC (deceased)

Clipped Signature - Sir Hughie Edwards VC. Price : £70.00

Commissioned in the RAF in 1936 flying Hind bombers with No.15 Sqn, he transferred to No.60 Sqn flying Blenheims - a crash hospitalised him for nine months. Commanding No.105 Sqn, he was awarded the Victoria Cross for a low-level attack on the dock ......

Packs with at least one item featuring the signature of Air Commodore Sir Hughie Edwards VC KCMG CB DSO OBE DFC (deceased)

Air Commodore Sir Hughie Edwards VC KCMG CB DSO OBE DFC (deceased)