Comox, British Columbia
Mr. Edwards is one of Canada’s greatest living fighter pilots and a decorated Veteran of the Second World War. He has received the Distinguished Flying Medal and was twice awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. Mr. Edwards is a member of 888 Wing of the Air Force Association of Canada. His experiences are well documented in three books, and his biography, Kittyhawk Pilot, provides the chronological process of his participation in the aerial war over the desert during the Second World War. Mr. Edwards regularly speaks to the cadets at the Regional Gliding School (Pacific) in Comox, British Columbia, about leadership, ethics, patriotism and morale. He has presented glider pilot wings to dozens of air cadets from the school. Annually, Mr. Edwards donates a copy of Kittyhawk Pilot to the top air cadet, a reward that is cherished by the recipient. Mr. Edwards has also visited many public schools in the Comox Valley to speak to school children. These visits bring much excitement to the students and staff when they learn that a famous fighter pilot from the Second World War is going to meet with them. Mr. Edwards was named a Member of the Order of Canada in 2004, was inducted into Canada’s Aviation Hall of Fame in May 2013, and received the French Legion of Honour Medal at the rank of Knight in 2014.