Francis Edwards transcript, March 11, 2005, bulk 1942-1946
Collection context
Summary
- Creator:
- Sigler, Jack
- Extent:
- 1 folders
- Language:
- English
- Preferred citation:
[Title of Item], [Date of Item], [Box and Folder number], Francis Edwards transcript, Special Collections & Archives, Florida State University Libraries, Tallahassee, Florida. https://purl.lib.fsu.edu/fa/02-06-0112
Background
- Scope and content:
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.
- 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.
- Acquisition information:
- This transcript was recorded through the Reichelt Oral History Program.
- Custodial history:
Transferred from the Institute on World War II and the Human Experience to FSU Libraries Special Collections & Archives in July 2022.
- Rules or conventions:
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Indexed terms
- Subjects:
- World War, 1939-1945
World War, 1939-1945--Pacific Area
Draft--United States
B-29 (Bomber)
United States. -- Air Force. -- Air Force, 20th -- History
Parachute troops
World War, 1939-1945--Naval operations, Japanese
World War, 1939-1945--Medical care
World War, 1939-1945--Religion
World War, 1939-1945--Aerial operations, British
Fort Dix Army Air Base (N.J.)
United States. Army Air Forces. Medals, badges, decorations, etc
World War, 1939-1945--Medals--United States
World War, 1939-1945--India
World War, 1939-1945--Prisoners and prisons - Names:
- United States. War Department.
Edwards, Francis, 1921-2014
Sigler, Jack
Roosevelt, Franklin D. (Franklin Delano), 1882-1945
Stilwell, Joseph Warren, 1883-1946 - Places:
- Casablanca (Morocco)
Formosa (Taipei, Taiwan)
Sasebo-shi (Japan)
World War, 1939-1945--China
World War, 1939-1945--War work--Red Cross
Rangoon (Burma)
Bangkok (Thailand)
Palembang (Indonesia)
Access and use
- Restrictions:
This collection is open to all researchers.
- Terms of access:
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.
- Preferred citation:
[Title of Item], [Date of Item], [Box and Folder number], Francis Edwards transcript, Special Collections & Archives, Florida State University Libraries, Tallahassee, Florida. https://purl.lib.fsu.edu/fa/02-06-0112
- Location of this collection:
-
116 Honors WayTallahasseeFL32306-2047USA