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Navy Federal Credit Union
William
Clarence
Edwards
February 22, 1914

–

May 31, 2003

William Edwards became a World War II Navy ACE, credited with shooting down 7.5 enemy aircraft in aerial combat, including becoming an ACE in a Day in one single action.

Awards Received

  • Distinguished Flying Cross

    Service:

    United States Navy

    Rank:

    Lieutenant Commander

    Batallion:

    Fighting Squadron 80 (VF-80)

    Action Date:

    World War II

    (Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: Lieutenant Commander William Clarence Edwards, United States Navy, was awarded a Gold Star in lieu of a Second Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as a Pilot in Fighting Squadron EIGHTY (VF-80), during World War II.

  • Navy Cross

    Service:

    United States Navy

    Rank:

    Lieutenant Commander [then Lieutenant]

    Batallion:

    Bombing Fighting Squadron 80 (VBF-80)

    Division:

    U.S.S. Hancock (CV-19)

    Action Date:

    February 16, 1945
    Commander Air Forces Pacific: Serial 25348 (December 9, 1945)

    The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Lieutenant Commander [then Lieutenant] William Clarence Edwards, United States Naval Reserve, for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Fighter Plane in Bombing Fighting Squadron EIGHTY (VBF-80), attached to the U.S.S. HANCOCK (CV-19), on 16 February 1945, during operations against enemy Japanese forces in the Tokyo, Japan Area, on 16 February 1945. Leading a Division of planes in an attack against numerically superior enemy aircraft, Lieutenant Commander Edwards personally shot down five enemy fighters and probably destroyed another. His skilled airmanship and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

  • Distinguished Flying Cross

    Service:

    United States Navy

    Rank:

    Lieutenant Commander

    Batallion:

    Fighting Squadron 80 (VF-80)

    Division:

    U.S.S. Ticonderoga

    Action Date:

    November 25, 1944
    Bureau of Naval Personnel Information Bulletin No. 358 (January 1947)

    (Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: Lieutenant Commander William Clarence Edwards, United States Navy, was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as a Pilot in Fighting Squadron EIGHTY (VF-80), embarked in U.S.S. TICONDEROGA in the vicinity of the Philippine Islands on 25 November 1944.