Francis Edwards transcript
Content Description
This collection relates to Francis Edwards who served in the 20th U.S. Army Air Force, 58th Group, 25th Squadron in the Pacific theater. This collection contains an oral history transcript detailing his service during the war and his return to the U.S.
Dates
- March 11, 2005
- Event: Majority of material found within 1942-1946
Conditions Governing Access
This collection is open to all researchers.
Conditions Governing Use
All requests for permission to quote, publish, broadcast or otherwise reproduce from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Associate Dean for Special Collections & Archives. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the Florida State University Libraries as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the researcher.
Biographical / Historical
Francis Edwards was born in Cuba, New York in December 31, 1921. In 1942, he was drafted and served in the U.S. Army Air Force from 1942 to 1946 in the Pacific theatre. He applied and attended training at Lowry Field in Denver, CO. He studied the Central Firing Control System, a computerized gunnery system on the B-29 in 1943. He was assigned to the 20th Air Force, 58th Group, 25th Squadron as the gun commander for a B-29 crew. He was shipped overseas to Chakulia base in India and Able One Base in China. He became a Japanese Prisoner of War at Rangoon jail and was rescued by British ground troops. He was transported to a hospital in Calcutta, India on a British hospital ship. He received various medals including the Purple Heart with a cluster, Air Medal with a cluster, prisoner of war medal, and good conduct medal. Following his service, he sold construction machinery and then worked as a purchasing agent for Motorola in Arcade for 20 years before retiring to Punta Gorda, Fla. He passed away on August 16, 2014 and is buried at Cuba Cemetery in Cuba, New York.
Extent
1 folders
Language of Materials
English
Custodial History
Transferred from the Institute on World War II and the Human Experience to FSU Libraries Special Collections & Archives in July 2022.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
This transcript was recorded through the Reichelt Oral History Program.
- World War, 1939-1945--War work--Red Cross Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- B-29 (Bomber) Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Bangkok (Thailand) Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Casablanca (Morocco) Subject Source: Lcnaf
- Draft--United States Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Edwards, Francis, 1921-2014 (Interviewee)
- Formosa (Taipei, Taiwan) Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Fort Dix Army Air Base (N.J.) Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Palembang (Indonesia) Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Parachute troops Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Rangoon (Burma) Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Roosevelt, Franklin D. (Franklin Delano), 1882-1945
- Sasebo-shi (Japan) Subject Source: Lcnaf
- Stilwell, Joseph Warren, 1883-1946
- United States. -- Air Force. -- Air Force, 20th -- History Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- United States. Army Air Forces. Medals, badges, decorations, etc Subject Source: Local sources
- United States. War Department.
- World War, 1939-1945 Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- World War, 1939-1945--Aerial operations, British Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- World War, 1939-1945--China Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- World War, 1939-1945--India Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- World War, 1939-1945--Medals--United States Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- World War, 1939-1945--Medical care Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- World War, 1939-1945--Naval operations, Japanese Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- World War, 1939-1945--Pacific Area Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- World War, 1939-1945--Prisoners and prisons Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- World War, 1939-1945--Religion Subject Source: Local sources
Source
- Sigler, Jack (Interviewer, Person)
- Title
- Francis Edwards transcript
- Author
- Beatrice Dain
- Date
- 08/28/2020
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- English
Repository Details
Part of the FSU Special Collections & Archives Repository
116 Honors Way
PO Box 3062047
Tallahassee FL 32306-2047 US
850-644-3271
lib-specialcollections@fsu.edu
