"This was the place where we learned to fly, we became pilots, we became officers"
Born May 19, 1927, in New York City, Mr. Edwards attended both public and Parochial schools in the city, sometimes as the only African American student, graduating from Rhoades Prep School in June of 1945. He was so anxious to get involved in the war effort that he did not even stay for his own graduation ceremony but left NYC in June of 1945 to become an Army Aviation Cadet at Keeler AFB in Biloxi, MS.
He quickly proceeded from there to Tuskegee, where he joined class 46-D of the Tuskegee Airmen. The war ended before he was able to complete this training, so he separated from the service later that year, proceeding out to California with friends to seek his fortune.
He briefly attended USC and soon became involved in acting and traveled with a Broadway theatrical production company for the better part of a year. He eventually returned to New York, where he attended college both in upstate New York as well as in NYC at Columbia University.
He was recalled to active duty on two different occasions, serving 18 months during the Korean conflict. Upon his return home, he took several jobs in law enforcement, including the New York State police and the Highway Patrol. He eventually settled in for a full 27-year career with the NYPD, retiring in August of 1980.
Always anxious to try new things, Mr. Edwards went on to become a photographer with a European Travel magazine and spent nearly 10 years living and traveling overseas before returning to the U.S. and settling in Colorado Springs.
Information Courtesy of the Edwards Family.
Black Wings: American Dreams of Flight
Featured Photo Courtsey of Tuskegee Airmen, Inc. National Office, https://tuskegeeairmen.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/NEWSLETTER_2017-PostConv-Newsletter.pdf.