These profiles and stories were donated to the RAAF Museum by the Gold Coast Branch of the Air Crew Association.

Service Profile: Ron Edwards

Ronald Seymour Edwards MID (ACA 18925) enlisted in the Royal Australian Air Force on 16 May 1940. He saw active service as a pilot during World War 2 in both the Middle East and Pacific.

During his service Ron flew in command of DH-60s, DH-82s, Avro Ansons, Blenheims (I, IV and V), Baltimores (III and V) Beauforts, Beaufighters, Wirraways, Airspeed Oxfords, Mitchells, Liberators, Vultee Vengeances, Mosquitos and Dakotas.

Ron's flying career postings were to No. 1 Initial Training School (ITS) Somers, No. 3 Elementary Flying Training School (EFTS) Essendon, No. 2 Service Flying Training School (SFTS) Wagga Wagga and RAF No. 8 Squadron, followed by an instructing stint at No. 70 Operational Training Unit Kenya and Egypt.

His zest for flying continued unabated as he was posted to No. 1 OTU East Sale and No. 5 OTU Williamtown, after which he joined No. 31 Squadron at Morotai in Papua New Guinea and completed a tour of operations on Beaufighters. On returning to Australia, he was posted to No. 1 Aircraft Depot (AD) Laverton for test pilot training in 1945, then No. 2 AD (Test and Acceptance) during 1946.

In recognition of his service, Ron was Mentioned in Dispatches (MID).

He was demobilised on Christmas Eve 1946. However, he did not indicate whether he was given a slice of Christmas cake by a grateful RAAF.

As it Happened: Three Belly Landings Run of the Mill (79K PDF)