RCAF Aviation History: Air Marshal Harold G. Edwards, CB
Air Marshal Harold G. Edwards, CB
(DND Photo)
Air Marshal Harold "Gus" Edwards, CB (24 December 1892 – 23February 1952) was a Canadian Air Force officer who played a prominent role inbuilding the RCAF. From Nov 1941 to Dec 1943, Edwards served as Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief Overseas where he was responsible for all RCAF personnel. In June 2012, Edwards was posthumously inducted into Canada's Aviation Hall of Fame for his "outstanding leadership in building Canada's national air force".
Harold Edwards was born inChorley, Lancashire, England on 24 Dec 1892; he immigrated with his family to Glace Bay, Nova Scotia in 1903. At age fourteen, he left school to work as atrapper boy in the coal mines, but also began home study following his shifts. By the age of 18 he qualified as the mine's chief electrician, and by 1915 hehad educated himself to a sufficiently high level to be accepted into the Royal Naval Air Service. Edwards earned his pilot's wings in 1916 and graduated as a flight sub-lieutenant.
During the First World War, Edwards was posted to No. 3 (Naval) Wing at Luxeuil-les-Bains, France, where he shot down one German aircraft, but was then himself shot down and captured. After two failed attempts to escape he succeeded on the third attempt; only to be recaptured and returned to Colmar for the remainder of the war.
After repatriation to England, Edwards joined the Royal Air Force (RAF), which had been formed on 1 April 1918by amalgamating the Royal Naval Air Service and the Army's Royal Flying Corps.In 1919, Edwards held the rank of captain in the RAF and volunteered to fly inthe fight against the Bolsheviks in the Russian Revolution in South Russia. Hewas assigned to No. 47 Squadron under the leadership of Major Raymond Collishaw. For service in Russia, he received the Order of Saint Stanislaus and the Orderof St. Anna as well as being Mentioned in Despatches.
After the war, Edwards returned to Canada and joined the newly-formed Canadian Air Force, a few months after its formationon 18 February 1920. Following a short flying refresher he was posted to Ottawa and placed in charge of the personnel branch where he was responsible fordocumenting Canadians with First World War experience in the RAF thenrecruiting them into the provisional air force and setting up an air trainingcentre at Camp Borden. By 1924, the Canadian Air Force had grown sufficiently toacquire permanent status as a component of the new Department of Defence. On 1Apr 1924, Canada's national air force was accorded royal assent and officiallyestablished as the Royal Canadian Air Force.
Following his work to develop apersonnel organization for Canada's national air force, Edwards returned toflying duties in June 1924 and was appointed Officer-in-Charge of VictoriaBeach, a flying boat detachment of RCAF Station Winnipeg on the south shore ofLake Winnipeg. The program to photograph Canada from the air began in earnestin 1924, with the Manitoba detachments leading the other units in Canada byphotographing 27,000 square metres (0.027 km2) in over 180 hours of flying.Edwards demonstrated that aerial photography was equally accurate to groundsurveys and saved a time and labour. Edwards also recommended that crew size ofthe Vickers Viking flying boat be reduced from four to three to carry morestores and safety equipment. He also authored a report documenting andstandardizing how aerial mapping photos were taken. The Manitoba detachmentalso led other RCAF detachments in forestry patrols, flying 1,020 hours onforest fire patrols, timber cruising and transporting officials to inaccessibleregions. The work of Edwards and his compatriots fostered an "airmindedness" in Canada and paved the way for Canada's civil aviationpioneers. Edwards' Commanding Officer reported him to be, "A very capablepilot and efficient officer in every respect – keen and energetic. A goodorganizer and Commander".
(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3580819)
S/L Edwards and HQ Senior NCOs, 28 Nov 1932.
In 1934, Edwards was selected to command RCAF Station Dartmouth (now 12 Wing Shearwater), where he formed one ofthe RCAF's first squadrons after the crippling Depression. No. 5 (Flying Boat)Squadron was created by amalgamating the five RCAF detachments at Dartmouth,Shediac, Gaspé, Sydney and Rimouski. Under his leadership, No. 5 Squadron initiated anti-smuggling air patrols with a Royal Canadian Mounted Police observeron board. The patrols were flown in consort with RCMP marine vessels to thwart illegal rum running along the Nova Scotia coast. Under his direction, No. 5Squadron initiated the first use of aircraft radios to report suspect vessels to RCAF and RCMP ground stations. He also introduced a tactical grid system todisguise geographic positions to foil rumrunners who eavesdropped on the wireless communications.
After the disastrous 1936 gold mine tragedy at Moose River, the provincial premier requested Edwards'assistance in coordinating the rescue mission. Edwards transmitted messages and coordinated No. 5 Squadron aircraft to fly rescue equipment and personnel tothe mine and to transport the injured to hospitals in Halifax; enabling them to receive treatment several days earlier than if transported by land. Millions inNorth America and Europe heard the rescue described on the radio. It was duringthese broadcasts that Edwards became known as he explained the RCAF's role inthe rescue; his leadership engendered interest in air power and respect for theRCAF.
During the post-Depression periodin the mid-1930s the government implemented an Unemployment Relief (UER)Project to create work for destitute and unemployed people and stimulate theeconomy. The RCAF benefited from the UER Projects by receiving more money andpersonnel, new aircraft and improved air stations. During 1937 and 1938, Edwardsoversaw the UER Project at RCAF Station Dartmouth, which expanded the smallseaplane base at Baker's Point into the largest and most important air stationin Eastern Canada. He supervised the purchase of land from neighbouring farmersand the construction of new hangars and runways. Edwards' Commanding Officerreported, "In addition to his [regular] duties, Edwards has been in chargeof UER Project No. 153 (Dartmouth Air Station) where his sound judgement anduntiring energy have been the main factor in carrying out this work underconsiderable [social upheaval] difficulties".
Under Edwards' command, RCAFStation Dartmouth and No. 5 Squadron were the only RCAF units in Canadadeclared combat ready at the outbreak of the Second World War. Notwithstandingthe RCAF's obsolescent aircraft and lack of experience in modern air warfare,Edwards prepared the station to play a role in the air defence of Halifax'sstrategic harbour, and the eventual defeat of the ubiquitous U-boats in theBattle of the Atlantic.
At the outbreak of the SecondWorld War, Canada agreed to be the principal venue for the British CommonwealthAir Training Plan (BCATP), which involved the construction of 107 flyingschools and 184 other units at 231 sites across the country. As Air Member forPersonnel at RCAF Headquarters in 1940–1941, Edwards was responsible formanning the RCAF and providing the essential personnel support servicesincluding discipline, pay, medical, chaplains, senior appointments, promotions,retirements, postings and reserve forces, as well as compiling Personnel StaffEstimates and supervising Personnel Appropriations. To help meet the immediater equirement for so many qualified flying instructors, Air Marshal Billy Bishopturned to the American Clayton Knight Committee to facilitate the recruitmentof hundreds of American civilian flying instructors and staff pilots, andEdwards dealt with the complexities of absorbing these Americans into the RCAFwhile respecting politically sensitive diplomatic protocols to avoid violatingUnited States neutrality.
The BCATP was able to provide over131,000 aircrew to Commonwealth air forces who were critical in replacing theacute loss of pilots during the Battle of Britain and the loss of more than 55,000aircrew in the bomber offensive over occupied Europe. The BCATP enabled the Commonwealth nations to man their air forces in Europe, North Africa and the Middle and Far East.
In January 1942, in the midst of the Second World War, Edwards was transferred to London, England as the "Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief RCAF Overseas". Edwards' wide rangeof experience in administration, his concern for the welfare of both officersand other ranks, and certainly his forceful personality made him the bestchoice to command all RCAF personnel overseas, not only in England but also inthe Middle and Far East.
According to BCATP Article XV,Canadian graduate aircrews were to form 35 RCAF squadrons after arrival inEngland. However, when Edwards arrived in London he discovered that Canadianswere dispersed over "Hell's half acre" within the RAF. RCAF Officersin the posting departments in England had received little direction toconcentrate Canadians into RCAF squadrons and were uncertain of the location ofmore than 6,000 Canadians posted into RAF squadrons. Edwards established aRecords and Statistics Directorate to track the whereabouts of all RCAFpersonnel. He increased RCAF medical staff in RAF hospitals and supported thebuilding of the plastic surgery hospital in East Grinstead. He improved thepostal system and introduced a Canadian newsletter, Wings Abroad. Edwardsestablished seven district headquarters, to provide a direct channel of communication for RCAF personnel in the field, on matters administered by the RCAF (pay, allowances, promotion, etc.). Similarly, with the ever-increasing number of RCAF personnel in the Mediterranean and Far East, district headquarters were opened in Cairo, Egypt and India.
(DND Photo)
A/V/M Edwards.
With so many Canadians serving in RAF squadrons, Edwards was concerned that Article XV was not being implemented as agreed by the signatories to the BCATP. Moreover, the large number of Canadians embedded in RAF squadrons obfuscated the RCAF's contribution to the air war andCanada was not being justly recognized for its contribution. Edwards met with his RAF counterparts to revitalize Article XV, a process that became known as "Canadianization", where Canadians would form distinct RCAF squadrons, which would fight as Canadian units under Canadian command. This plan received harsh criticism from the highest ranks of the RAF; his assertiveness made him unpopular around the Air Ministry.
(DND Photo)
A/V/M Edwards (right) chats with Vincent Massey, High Commissioner for Canada, at the world premiere of Captains of the Clouds in London.
Conflicting direction from Ottawa urging him to press for "Canadianization" but not to antagonize the Air Ministry took a toll on his health. Eighteen RCAF fighter squadrons, organized into six Canadian wings, formed the largest Commonwealth contingent in the RAF's Second Tactical Air Force. Similarly, 15 bomber squadrons in No. 6Group RCAF in RAF Bomber Command earned recognition of Canada's major role in carrying the fight to the enemy in the night skies over Nazi occupied Europe. In the same vein, six RCAF anti-submarine and anti-shipping squadrons provided yeoman service in RAF Coastal Command. By the end of the Second World War, RCAF BCATP establishments and squadrons in Europe constituted the fourth largest Allied air force.
For his leadership in RCAF's overall contribution to the Allied victory in the Second World War, Air Marshal Edwards received awards of distinction from the United Kingdom, the United States, France and Czechoslovakia. 16 Dec 1919 – Mentioned for valuable services whilstin captivity (London Gazette), 19 Jan 1920 – Order of St. Stanislaus w/sword and bow (Russia), 15 Mar 1920 – Mentioned in Despatches, 23 Mar 1920 – Order ofSt. Anne w/sword and bow (Russia), 1 Jan 1943 – Companion, Order of the Bath,13 Aug 1946 – Commander, Legion of Merit (United States of America), 12 Sep1947 – Croix de Guerre avec palme (France), 12 Sep 1947 – Officier de la Légion d'Honneur (France), 5 Mar 1948 – Order of the White Lion For Victory – Star, First Class (Czechoslovakia), 14 Jun 2012 – Canada's Aviation Hall of Fame.
Exhausted from RCAF work, Edwards' failing health forced him to return to Canada on 31 Dec 1943. He retired from the RCAF on 29 Sep 1944 and died on 23 Feb 1952, at the age of 59, in Scottsdale, Arizona. Six days later the RCAF buried its first Air Marshal with national honours in Ottawa's Beechwood Cemetery on 29 Feb 1952. On 15 Jun 2012,sixty years after his death, Air Marshal Edwards was reinterred beside his comrades-in-arms in the National Military Cemetery, located within Beechwood Cemetery. (Wikipedia)
