Distinguished Flying Awards

Distinguished Flying AwardsInterviewer: Mr. Edwards, it’s my understanding that during your service, you were awarded both the Distinguished Flying Medal and the Distinguished Flying Cross. The DFM is normally awarded to a non commissioned pilot officer.Yes, that’s right.Interviewer: Can you tell me what you won the DFM for? Normally you get, after you destroy 5 air planes, you get a DFC or equivalent, or if you had done something special. But by the time I was recommended for it, I had more than 8 destroyed and I didn’t get it at that time. I got them both together in February ‘43 after we were in... almost in to Tunisia. I got the DFM and the DFC together and they were back-dated, of course. But then the DFC was recommended by the Army commander. An Army general who was being attacked by the Messerschmitts at the front line and it was my first flight as official flight lieutenant leading the squadron. We ran in to these...we saw the 109's being shot at and we ran in to them and we shot down 6 without loss to ourselves and amongst the flak that the army was sending up. The Army general was so impressed that he insisted on immediate DFC. So it came from the army. And I never met the general. I don’t know who he was. Interviewer: At the conclusion of the campaign in Tunisia, you had scored number of other (Yes.) kills by that point. (Yes.) And in fact, would that normally not indicate that you should be awarded a bar to the DFC? Well yes I was, or something probably, but we’d lost our CO and we had no one there to make up for it. And no one... the new people didn’t know what had happened. But later on, you see, we went into Italy and I destroyed another four or five air planes and I was posted out of there without any recognition. And then I received my bar when I finished in England, before I came home the first time. So I ended up with a bar to the DFC. I always feel very bad about any time I might brag a little bit about something. It just doesn’t fit at all. It’s not worth doing, I think.Interviewer: As you know, Mr. Edwards, this is something that I’ve had to push you to say, and I appreciate very much you being as candid as you’ve been. But sir, it’s my understanding that the Air Force records indicate 16.5 kills with 8-12 probables. (Yes.) In fact, you have more than that unofficially to your credit.Yes and then I have another 8 on the ground, destroyed air planes. Interviewer: And damaged as well? Yes and many bombs. 200 vehicles are officially declared. 200 vehicles destroyed on the ground.