Military Career
Enlistment
Edward tried enlisting at least twice after the war began but was turned down due to his flat feet. He registered for the draft on February 14th, 1942 in Stewart, Mississippi and was finally allowed into the U.S. Army Air Forces on March 4th, 1943 at Camp Shelby, Mississippi. His civil occupation was listed as checkers, which likely means he inspected cargo shipments
Stations
Throughout his short military career, Edward would be stationed at six different bases and be in three separate Bomber Squadrons, all very heavy. He stayed at Camp Shelby for the part of March and then went to the Air force Beach Training Center in Miami Florida where he remained until mid-April. He then travelled all the way to Seymour Johnson, North Carolina. On August 4th, Edward was sent to the medical wing of Seymour Johnson and remained there for one week.[4] From November 1943 until February 1944, Edward resided at Chanute Air Base for technical training. At the end of February and until March, he was sent to Lowry Field, Colorado. Near the end of his journey, he went to Pratt, Kansas until October. Here in March 1944, he was first placed in the 20th Bomb Squadron, which used DH-4 planes. Later, in April, he would become a comrade in the 19th Bomb Squadron who utilized the C130 bombers to complete missions. Finally, in May, Edward found himself in the 871st Bomber Squadron as a tail bomber on a B-29 bomber plane. This Squadron, also known as “Jokers Wild”, is where he would remain for the rest of his career. In October 1944, Edward made his final move until Saipan; He would go to Kearney Army Airfield in Kearney, Nebraska.[6]
The 497th
The 497th Bombardment Group (Very Heavy) was created on November 19th, 1943 and activated the next day. Inactivation would occur on March 31st, 1946. The group used B-29 planes during their many missions which were based in Saipan. In October 1944, the 497th began by launching attacks against Iwo Jima and the Truk Islands. They participated in the first attack on Japan by U.S. Army Air Force based in the Marianas on November 24th, 1944. It would make its attacks in daylight and from high altitude. The group began to make low-flying, nighttime incendiary raids against Japan in March 1945 and would continue until the end of the war. In April of 1945 they assisted in the Okinawan assault by bombing enemy airfields to reduce the resistance the invasion would face.
Edward tried enlisting at least twice after the war began but was turned down due to his flat feet. He registered for the draft on February 14th, 1942 in Stewart, Mississippi and was finally allowed into the U.S. Army Air Forces on March 4th, 1943 at Camp Shelby, Mississippi. His civil occupation was listed as checkers, which likely means he inspected cargo shipments
Stations
Throughout his short military career, Edward would be stationed at six different bases and be in three separate Bomber Squadrons, all very heavy. He stayed at Camp Shelby for the part of March and then went to the Air force Beach Training Center in Miami Florida where he remained until mid-April. He then travelled all the way to Seymour Johnson, North Carolina. On August 4th, Edward was sent to the medical wing of Seymour Johnson and remained there for one week.[4] From November 1943 until February 1944, Edward resided at Chanute Air Base for technical training. At the end of February and until March, he was sent to Lowry Field, Colorado. Near the end of his journey, he went to Pratt, Kansas until October. Here in March 1944, he was first placed in the 20th Bomb Squadron, which used DH-4 planes. Later, in April, he would become a comrade in the 19th Bomb Squadron who utilized the C130 bombers to complete missions. Finally, in May, Edward found himself in the 871st Bomber Squadron as a tail bomber on a B-29 bomber plane. This Squadron, also known as “Jokers Wild”, is where he would remain for the rest of his career. In October 1944, Edward made his final move until Saipan; He would go to Kearney Army Airfield in Kearney, Nebraska.[6]
The 497th
The 497th Bombardment Group (Very Heavy) was created on November 19th, 1943 and activated the next day. Inactivation would occur on March 31st, 1946. The group used B-29 planes during their many missions which were based in Saipan. In October 1944, the 497th began by launching attacks against Iwo Jima and the Truk Islands. They participated in the first attack on Japan by U.S. Army Air Force based in the Marianas on November 24th, 1944. It would make its attacks in daylight and from high altitude. The group began to make low-flying, nighttime incendiary raids against Japan in March 1945 and would continue until the end of the war. In April of 1945 they assisted in the Okinawan assault by bombing enemy airfields to reduce the resistance the invasion would face.