On 9 October 1943, “Eddie” Edwards was posted to No 3 Squadron, flying Typhoons. On 7 March 1944, his section was bounced by Bf 109s and Edwards, his aircraft badly damaged, crash landed at Manston.
The squadron re-equipped with Tempests and began operating from the Newchurch advanced landing ground on Romney Marsh. Edwards was credited with seven V1 flying bombs destroyed and five shared. He spent some time in the RAF Hospital, Halton, after being injured while helping with the harvest at Newchurch while off duty.
After a short spell on target-towing duties, Edwards returned to 3 Squadron. On 29 December 1944, Flight Lieutenant Edwards was in one of four Tempests taking part in an armed reconnaissance north of Rheine, Germany. They were attacked by 20 plus Bf 109s and FW 190s. Edwards was shot down by a Bf 109, falling next to a railway line just outside Spelle. He was killed.
His body was buried by local people in the Catholic churchyard, where it remained until 20 May 1947. A British burial unit then reinterred him at the Reichswald Forest War Cemetery.
