Convoy to Scotland
Heroes Remember
Convoy to Scotland
Transcript
Description
A story about danger, intercultural relationships and finding beauty in all things.
James Francis Edwards
Mr. Edwards was born on a farm near Lockwood, Saskatchewan on June 5th 1921. His father, a First World War Veteran, kept horses until the depression forced him to move the family to Battleford where he became an insurance salesman. His mother had been a nurse during the First World War. In June 1940, Mr. Edwards enlisted in the Air Force. He was sent to the Brandon, Manitoba to do his Initial Training, then to Edmonton, Alberta for Flying School. After completing Flying School, Mr. Edwards was sent to overseas. He was assigned to 55 Operational Training Unit in Osworth, England where he flew Hurricanes. From there he was posted to Africa to take part in the Desert Campaign. Among many battles and operations, he took part in the El Alamein Battle (Egypt) and the Tunisian Campaign. In Egypt, he was promoted to Flight Lieutenant. After a period in Cairo running a gunnery school, he was called back to combat in Italy. There he fought in the Battle of Ortona and Anzio and he was given his own squadron, the RAF 274. He was shot down on his first flight as squadron commander. Surviving, he and his crew were sent back to England to take part in D-Day. He would also fight in Holland and Germany. In total, Mr. Edwards served two tours of duty, flying over 360 missions. He had more than 19 confirmed kills. After the war was over he returned to Canada and continued service with the air force retiring as a wing commander.
Meta Data
- Medium:
- Video
- Owner:
- Veterans Affairs Canada
- Duration:
- 02:16
- Person Interviewed:
- James Francis Edwards
- War, Conflict or Mission:
- Second World War
- Location/Theatre:
- North Atlantic Ocean
- Branch:
- Air Force
- Rank:
- Sergeant Pilot
- Occupation:
- Pilot
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June 1940 - School’s Out, Duty Calls
Mr. Edwards tells his incredible enlistment story, one that proves that his devotion to duty started even before he signed up.
A Long Way from the Skies
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1941 - Initial Training School
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From a convoy bound for Iceland to a soft ball game with Australian servicemen; a great look into the daily routine of soldiers slowly making their way to combat.
Luck of the Draw
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My First Accidental Forced Landing
Mr. Edwards makes us understand the importance of learning from our mistakes, through the telling of a story that could easily have ended in death.
The Hurricane
Mr. Edwards describes the joy and difficulty of flying a Hurricane fighter plane.
Fear of the Unknown
From the anticipation of combat, to the sights and smells of a new world, Mr. Edwards describes what he truly feared and marvelled at.
A Long and Demanding First African Assignment
A true adventure story about the danger, anecdotes and woes of the pilots. Mr. Edwards takes us, step by step, through the many long months of action and inaction of his Desert Campaign.
Comparing the Hurricane and the Kittyhawk P40
Mr. Edwards believes the P40 airplane was better than the Hurricane and he describes why they were necessary to fight the Germans.
260 Squadron Fighting Strategies
A very complete look into Allied and Axis air combat (dog fighting). Mr. Edwards describes the strengths, weaknesses and strategies.
A Sergeant Pilot Showing the Ropes to a Major
Mr. Edwards talks about having a US Major flying as his #2.
Inadequate Intelligence
The Allied forces knew what was happening on the ground but the sky was another story...
Pursuing the Germans after El Alamein
Mr. Edwards describes the aftermath of the battle that, in his opinion, finally gave the Allies the upper hand in the Desert Campaign.
The Pleasures and Dangers of Scavenging and Using German Equipment
After the Battle of El Alamein, the Axis forces abandoned a plethora of vehicles and equipment to which the Allies helped themselves, though not without some risk...
How I Finally Became a Flight Lieutenant
Mr. Edwards explains how he exerted some gentle pressure in order to be promoted to the rank of Flight Lieutenant, even though he was commanding squadrons.
Inexperienced Allies Made for Bolder Germans
With the Americans pushing from the West and the British from the South, pressure was building on the Germans in Tunisia, but the lack of experience of some pilots made things difficult for the Allies.
Burning Ocean
At the end of the Tunisian Campaign, the Germans were trying to hold on to their last bridge head, but Allied air power overwhelmed them. Mr. Edwards explains what he saw and did there.
To Become an Ace
To become an Air Fighting Ace you needed to have five confirmed kills and a very special character. By the time he came home after D-Day, Mr. Edwards had become one, many times over.
Gunnery School
After Tunisia, to his dismay, Mr. Edwards had to go set up and run a Gunnery School near Cairo, Egypt. He tells the strange and unfortunate circumstances that got him there and the unexpected joy it brought him.
Flying Dangerous Spitfires in Italy
We learn the unlikely story of a hero through the recollection of operational activities in Italy.
A Near Death Experience
After being given his own RAF Spitfire Squadron, Mr. Edwards was shot down. He tells the incredible story of his survival.
D-Day - From A Spitfire
Mr. Edwards and his ground crew were called back to England from Italy to take part in D-Day operations. He shares his impressions of the whole affair.
Reaction to the War Ending
Mr. Edwards remembers being happy that the war was over, yet at the same time feeling strange that he would no longer be doing what he had been trained to do.
From Hockey back to War
Mr. Edwards had been good enough to try out for the Black Hawks hockey team before the war, therefore, after he returned home, he went back to his old hobby. Shortly thereafter, however, he was called back to Europe: Holland needed pilots.
Distinguished Flying Awards
Mr. Edwards reflects on receiving the DFM and DFC (in February 1943) and later a bar to the DFC. In particular, he describes the action for which the DFC was awarded.
Remembering Comrades
Mr. Edwards describes the camaraderie shared with other pilots - the feeling that those that were lost, were still part of the team.
Canada’s Contribution to Victory
Mr. Edwards reflects on his feeling that the war would not have been won by the Allies if not for the Canadian contribution.
Remembrance Day Commentaries
Mr. Edwards describes gathering with other Veterans to remember fallen comrades.
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