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Hughie Idwal Edwards

Air Commodore · 39005 · Australian

Born: 1 August 1914, Fremantle, Western Australia
Died: 5 August 1982, aged 68
Fate: Served and survived

Biography

Wing Commander (later Air Commodore Sir) Hughie Idwal Edwards was the first Australian airman of the Second World War to win the Victoria Cross. Born at Fremantle, Western Australia, on 1 August 1914, he joined the RAAF in 1935 and took a commission in the RAF. In May 1941 he was given command of No. 105 Squadron, flying Bristol Blenheim light bombers. On 4 July 1941 he led a formation of Blenheims at low level against the heavily defended port of Bremen, pressing through balloon cables and intense flak; his own aircraft was hit more than twenty times but he brought the survivors home. He came through the war holding the DSO and DFC as well as the Victoria Cross, rose to air rank, and later served as Governor of Western Australia. He died on 5 August 1982.

194 others in this archive died on 5 August →

Timeline

1 August 1914 Born
Fremantle, Western Australia
22 July 1941 Gazetted: VC
Victoria Cross
5 August 1982 Died
aged 68

Service

Wing Commander, No. 105 Squadron

Awards

Victoria Cross (VC) — gazetted 22 July 1941