A Second World War flying ace from Battleford recently turned 100 years old.
Wing Commander (Ret鈥檇) James 鈥淪tocky鈥� Edwards celebrated his milestone at a party at his residence in Comox, B.C. June 5.
The event included a flyby of two CF-18 Hornets from 4 Wing Cold Lake, Alta. to honour Edwards鈥� time as a fighter pilot. Both Stocky and his wife Toni were there for the festivities.
The event was organized by 19 Wing, and came complete with birthday cake and a decorated golf cart, as well decorative letters placed in the grass that spelled out 鈥淗appy 100th Birthday Stocky.鈥�
Wing Commander Edwards grew up in Battleford and after graduating from St. Thomas College he joined the Royal Canadian Air Force in 1940.
Edwards went on to fly P-40 Kitty Hawks in North Africa on the Western Desert Campaign. On his first operational mission, he downed a German Messerschmitt 109. Eventually he earned the title of Canada鈥檚 Highest Scoring Ace in the Western Desert campaign.
He later was sent to Italy, where he flew Spitfires as Squadron Commander for 274 RAF Squadron. He protected Western forces in the D-Day Invasion and flew his Spitfire over the beaches of Normandy.
In 1945, Stocky was posted to 127 RCAF Wing as Wing Commander until the end of the war.
According to a profile of Edwards written by Elinor Florence, his 鈥渙fficial鈥� count was 18 aircraft destroyed, 16 damaged and seven probables, with another 14 destroyed on the ground. Other sources credit him with 19 victories.
Edwards continued to serve in the RCAF after the war, including leading the 1st Sabre Squadron overseas. He flew aircraft such as Vampires, Sabres and CF-100s both in Canada and overseas during that time.
He retired in 1972 to Comox, having achieved the rank of Lt.-Colonel. Following his retirement, Edwards remained active in supporting conservation efforts.
Edwards has been recipient of many awards, including the Distinguished Flying Cross and Bar, the Distinguished Flying Medal and the Canadian Forces Decoration. He was named to the Order of Canada in 2004.
In an interview with Florence in 2014, Edwards recalled a few things for his success.
鈥淚 was an athlete before the war,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 lived a good life, I didn鈥檛 smoke or drink ... and I was religious. I said my prayers all the time, and I still do.鈥�
But he also cited luck as a factor. 鈥淎nother inch either way, and I could have been the other guy.鈥�
