Canadian fighter pilot, hero of the Med, passes at 100
May 16, 2022 18:14:26 GMT
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Post by boomerbill on May 16, 2022 18:14:26 GMT
The RCAF (Royal Canadian Air Force) released the following statement today:
"It was with great sadness that we learned that Second World War fighter pilot ace, Wing Commander James Francis “Stocky” Edwards, passed away on Saturday, May 14th. Stocky Edwards was 100 years old.
"Edwards joined the RCAF in October 1940 when he was only 19 years old. Flying a P-40 Kittyhawk, he flew 373 operational sorties and was never shot down himself. He was Canada’s top fighter pilot of the Western Desert Campaign and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Distinguished Flying Medal. He was also made a Member of the Order of Canada in 2004. Stocky served in the RCAF until 1971 and led 430 Squadron during the Cold War."
The words of the poem, High Flight, would be appropriate now:
"Oh, I have slipped the surly bonds of earth
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;
Sunward I've climbed and joined the tumbling mirth
Of sun-split clouds — and done a hundred things
You have not dreamed of; wheeled and soared and swung
High in the sun-lit silence. Hovering there
I've chased the shouting wind along, and flung
My eager craft through footless halls of air;
Up, up the long, delirious, burning blue
I've topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace,
Where never lark nor even eagle flew;
And while, with silent lifting mind I've trod
The high untrespassed sanctity of space,
Put out my hand, and touched the face of God."
"It was with great sadness that we learned that Second World War fighter pilot ace, Wing Commander James Francis “Stocky” Edwards, passed away on Saturday, May 14th. Stocky Edwards was 100 years old.
"Edwards joined the RCAF in October 1940 when he was only 19 years old. Flying a P-40 Kittyhawk, he flew 373 operational sorties and was never shot down himself. He was Canada’s top fighter pilot of the Western Desert Campaign and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Distinguished Flying Medal. He was also made a Member of the Order of Canada in 2004. Stocky served in the RCAF until 1971 and led 430 Squadron during the Cold War."
The words of the poem, High Flight, would be appropriate now:
"Oh, I have slipped the surly bonds of earth
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;
Sunward I've climbed and joined the tumbling mirth
Of sun-split clouds — and done a hundred things
You have not dreamed of; wheeled and soared and swung
High in the sun-lit silence. Hovering there
I've chased the shouting wind along, and flung
My eager craft through footless halls of air;
Up, up the long, delirious, burning blue
I've topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace,
Where never lark nor even eagle flew;
And while, with silent lifting mind I've trod
The high untrespassed sanctity of space,
Put out my hand, and touched the face of God."
