Edwards, Hughie Idwal VC, DSO, OBE, DFC (Air Commodore, b.1914 - d.1982)

Collection relating to the Second World War and post-war service of 39005 Air Commodore Hughie Idwal Edwards VC, DSO, OBE, DFC, Royal Australian Air Force, Australia, United Kingdom, Malta, Ceylon, Malaya, and Iraq, 1935-1982.

This collection contains log books, documents, correspondence, and autobiographical manuscripts of Air Commodore Hughie Idwal Edwards.

Wallet 1 of 12 – Consists of two log books of Air Commodore Edwards. The first log book contains entries dated between 26 June 1935 and 21 December 1936. This log book covers the period of Air Commodore Edwards’ flying training in Australia and England, and his first posting in Scotland. The second log book contains entries dated between 1 January 1937 and 31 June 1944. This log book covers the period of Air Commodore Edwards’ service with 90 Squadron and 105 Squadron, and time as the Commanding officer of the Royal Air Force station at Binbrook, Lincolnshire, England.

Wallet 2 of 12 – Consists of three log books of Air Commodore Edwards. The first log book contains entries dated between 20 December 1944 and 29 May 1952. This log book covers the period of Air Commodore Edwards’ service at South East Asia Command, Air Headquarters, Malaya, and the Royal Air Force station at Kuala Lumpur. The second log book contains entries dated between 6 June 1952 and 22 October 1957. This log book covers the period of Air Commodore Edwards’ time as the commanding officer of the Royal Air Force Stations at Wattisham, Suffolk, England, and Habbaniya, Iraq. The third log book contains entries dated between 30 October 1957 and 17 November 1960. This log book covers the period of Air Commodore Edwards’ service as the commanding officer of the Royal Air Force Station at Habbaniya, Iraq, and time as the commanding officer of the Central Fighter Establishment, West Raynham, Norfolk, England. Several of the log books contain documents relating to Air Commodore Edwards’ service.

Wallet 3 of 12 – Consists of one pilot’s licence of Air Commodore Edwards, issued 12 December 1935, and two passports of Air Commodore Edwards, issued 13 October 1941 and 14 June 1956.

Wallet 4 of 12 – Consists of two folders of documents and papers relating to Air Commodore Edwards.

Wallet 4 of 12, Folder 1 of 2 contains documents relating to 105 Squadron, including publications, bulletins, and biographical notes on decorated members of the squadron.

Wallet 4 of 12, Folder 2 of 2 contains papers of Air Commodore Edwards, including reports, publications, notes, operational orders, and a copy of an intelligence broadcast.

Wallet 5 of 12 – Consists of official documents and correspondence relating to awards and appointment received by Air Commodore Edwards, including his Distinguished Service Order, Order of the British Empire, Victoria Cross, and appointment as the Governor of Western Australia.

Wallet 6 of 12 – Consists of congratulatory letters from colleagues and friends to Air Commodore Edwards, 1958-1960. These letters relate to the award of Air Commodore Edwards’ Companion of the Order of the Bath and his appointment as an aide-de-camp to Queen Elizabeth II.

Wallet 7 of 12 – Consists of one scrapbook album of Air Commodore Edwards, 1941-c1943. This album contains congratulatory telegrams from colleagues and friends relating to Air Commodore Edwards’ awards, and newspaper clippings relating to his service. Loose items originally housed in this album are now housed in Wallet 8 of 12.

Wallet 8 of 12 – Consists of two folders of loose material originally housed within the scrapbook of Air Commodore Edwards.

Wallet 8 of 12, Folder 1 of 2 contains congratulatory telegrams from colleagues and friends relating to Air Commodore Edwards’ awards and marriage, 1941-1942. This folder also contains a Certificate of Birth and a Marriage Certificate of Air Commodore Edwards.

Wallet 8 of 12, Folder 2 of 2 contains newspaper clippings relating to the service of Air Commodore Edwards, 1941-1955.

Wallet 9 of 12 – Consists of two folders of correspondence and documents relating to the writing of Air Commodore Edward’s autobiography, c1963-1964.

Wallet 9 of 12, Folder 1 of 2 contains correspondence and feedback from editors, and partial drafts of Air Commodore Edward’s autobiography.

Wallet 9 of 12, Folder 2 of 2 contains reference material, including multiple copies of translated reports of Allied raids on Bremen in 1941 and Copenhagen in 1943, a translated excerpt from a book on air raids, and multiple copies of Air Commodore Edwards’ recommendation for the Victoria Cross.

Wallet 10 of 12 – Consists of Chapters 1 - 12 of a draft of Air Commodore Edwards’ autobiography. These chapters cover Air Commodore Edwards’ childhood, flying training, moving to England to join the Royal Air Force, service with 90 Squadron, an aircraft crash which left him severely injured, his long recovery, service with 139 Squadron, early service as the commanding officer of 105 Squadron, and a goodwill mission to the United States of America. Air Commodore Edwards includes details of many operations, including those for which he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and Victoria Cross.

Wallet 11 of 12 - Consists of Chapters 13 - 18 of a draft of Air Commodore Edwards’ autobiography. These chapters cover Air Commodore Edwards’ service as Chief Instructor at an operational training unit, later service as commanding officer of 105 Squadron, service as commanding officer of the Binbrook Royal Air Force Station, flying on operations with 460 Squadron, and service as the Group Captain of Bomber Operations in Ceylon.

Wallet 12 of 12 – Consists of one incomplete copy of the manuscript of Air Commodore Edwards’ autobiography.

Oversize Item 1 of 1 – Consists of one mock warrant presented to Air Commodore Edwards by his fellow servicemen on his departure from the Royal Air Force Base at Habbaniya, Iraq, 1958. Wax seal on reverse.