THOMAS E. EDWARDS, JR., LT, USN
Thomas Edwards, Jr. '37
Lucky Bag
From the 1937 Lucky Bag:
THOMAS ELBERT EDWARDS, JR.
Corpus Christi, Texas
"Bobby" "Two-gun" "Tommy"
Corpus Christi lost a loyal son when Bobby followed the call of the sea. The body alone was lost however; the mind tarried until Demon Steam raised its ugly head and growled. But it growled in vain, for an aroused mind soon triumphed over matter. Bobby's favorite sport is football, and memories of his inspired playing will always remain with those who watched him. Girls, like all things, he takes seriously, but a changeable nature has protected him from any single one. A thousand friends send out into the Service a man whose sincerity and perseverance will serve it well.
Football 4, 2, 1, N. Track 3. Two Stripes.
THOMAS ELBERT EDWARDS, JR.
Corpus Christi, Texas
"Bobby" "Two-gun" "Tommy"
Corpus Christi lost a loyal son when Bobby followed the call of the sea. The body alone was lost however; the mind tarried until Demon Steam raised its ugly head and growled. But it growled in vain, for an aroused mind soon triumphed over matter. Bobby's favorite sport is football, and memories of his inspired playing will always remain with those who watched him. Girls, like all things, he takes seriously, but a changeable nature has protected him from any single one. A thousand friends send out into the Service a man whose sincerity and perseverance will serve it well.
Football 4, 2, 1, N. Track 3. Two Stripes.
Loss
Thomas was lost on January 30, 1943 when his F4F-4 Wildcat crashed astern of USS Enterprise (CV 6) while approaching for a landing. The time was 1345 local; "Plane sank, pilot was not recovered."
He was a member of Fighting Squadron (VF) 10.
Note that some sites, including Pacific Wrecks, state that he "went missing" during the Battle of Rennell Island. Enterprise's deck log, however, makes clear he crashed during an attempted landing three hours before the action was begun.
Other Information
From researcher Kathy Franz: "His father was a manager of a motor company, mother Jennie, and brother David. His parents held a memorial service for him on April 17 in Wichita Falls where they lived."
His father was listed as next of kin.
Career & Wartime Experience
Thomas reported to NAS Pensacola for flight training on June 30, 1939 as an Ensign. He was promoted to LTJG on June 3, 1940; on that same day he was designated naval aviator #6460. He was promoted to LT on January 2, 1942. He detached from Scouting Squadron (VS) 2 for Fighting Squadron (VF) 10 on August 1, 1942. He was awarded a Distinguished Flying Cross on October 26, 1942 while flying from USS Enterprise (CV 6), though unable to find citation. His Silver Star, below, was while flying from Marine Corps Air Base Guadalcanal. (Information from Richard Leonard, naval aviation historian.)
As a member of Scouting Squadron (VS) 2, Thomas participated in the Battle of the Coral Sea. Later, when he was with Fighting Squadron (VF) 10, he was flying with the "Cactus Air Force" at Henderson Field, Guadalcanal and from USS Enterprise.
On November 11, 1942 the VF-10 war diary noted he was "transferred to the Army Base hospital because of a knee injury received the previous day." There is no detail on how this injury was received; the previous day "no flights were carried out." His return to the squadron is not noted, but by November 13 he was recommended for an award — likely the Silver Star, below.
It's unclear when he went back to the hospital, but on December 1, 1942 he "was released from the Navy Base Hospital and reported for duty on the Enterprise." The ship and VF-10 were at Tontouta, New Caledonia.
From Hall of Valor:
The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Navy Cross (Posthumously) to Lieutenant Thomas Elbert Edwards (NSN: 0-78719), United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Scouting Plane in Scouting Squadron TWO (VS-2), attached to the U.S.S. LEXINGTON (CV-2), in action against enemy Japanese forces during the Air Battle of the Coral Sea on 7 and 8 May 1942. With Participating in a dive-bombing attack on an enemy aircraft carrier on 7 May, Lieutenant Edwards contributed materially to the destruction of the vessel by pressing home his attack with skill and determination. On 8 May he launched repeated counterattacks against Japanese aircraft in the face of heavy fighter opposition. His conspicuous devotion to duty and utter disregard of personal safety were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
Action Date: May 7 & 8, 1942
Service: Navy
Rank: Lieutenant
Company: Scouting Squadron 2 (VS-2)
Division: U.S.S. Lexington (CV-2)
Silver Star
From Hall of Valor:
The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Lieutenant Thomas Elbert Edwards (NSN: 0-78719), United States Navy, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Combat Plane attached to the U.S.S. ENTERPRISE (CV-6), during aerial combat against enemy Japanese forces in the Guadalcanal Area on 15 November 1942. Despite a serous knee injury, Lieutenant Edwards finally gained permission to leave the Army Hospital at Nouema in order to return to his Squadron. Gallantly leading his flight against Japanese fighter planes and with utter disregard for his own personal safety, he destroyed one enemy fighter and damaged two others, thereby contributing in great part to repelling a bombing raid. Following this action he returned to his base, re-serviced, and immediately took off again in quest of the enemy, later voluntarily strafing enemy positions west of Henderson Field. His personal valor, skillful leadership, and aggressive fighting spirit were an inspiration to all the pilots based on Guadalcanal and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
Action Date: 15-Nov-42
Service: Navy
Rank: Lieutenant
Division: U.S.S. Enterprise (CV-6)
Note: This citation's date is almost certainly in error; should be November 13, where he was named specifically as worthy of commendation in the VF-10 war diary. On November 15 he is not mentioned, and "the squadron flew inner and intermediate air patrols without incident."
Related Articles
Hugh Wood, Jr. '40 was also a member of Scouting Squadron (VS) 2 during the Battle of the Coral Sea.
The "Register of Commissioned and Warrant Officers of the United States Navy and Marine Corps" was published annually from 1815 through at least the 1970s; it provided rank, command or station, and occasionally billet until the beginning of World War II when command/station was no longer included. Scanned copies were reviewed and data entered from the mid-1840s through 1922, when more-frequent Navy Directories were available.
The Navy Directory was a publication that provided information on the command, billet, and rank of every active and retired naval officer. Single editions have been found online from January 1915 and March 1918, and then from three to six editions per year from 1923 through 1940; the final edition is from April 1941.
The entries in both series of documents are sometimes cryptic and confusing. They are often inconsistent, even within an edition, with the name of commands; this is especially true for aviation squadrons in the 1920s and early 1930s.
Alumni listed at the same command may or may not have had significant interactions; they could have shared a stateroom or workspace, stood many hours of watch together… or, especially at the larger commands, they might not have known each other at all. The information provides the opportunity to draw connections that are otherwise invisible, though, and gives a fuller view of the professional experiences of these alumni in Memorial Hall.
September 1937
LT Ralph Smith '26 (Torpedo Squadron (VT) 2)
LT Renwick Calderhead '27 (Torpedo Squadron (VT) 2)
LTjg George Ottinger '32 (Bombing Squadron (VB) 2)
LTjg George Klinsmann '33 (Torpedo Squadron (VT) 2)
LTjg William Kane '33 (Fighting Squadron (VF) 2)
LTjg Thompson Guthrie, Jr. '34 (Scouting Squadron (VS) 2)
January 1938
LT Ralph Smith '26 (Torpedo Squadron (VT) 2)
LT Renwick Calderhead '27 (Torpedo Squadron (VT) 2)
LTjg George Ottinger '32 (Bombing Squadron (VB) 2)
LTjg George Klinsmann '33 (Torpedo Squadron (VT) 2)
LTjg William Kane '33 (Fighting Squadron (VF) 2)
LTjg Thompson Guthrie, Jr. '34 (Scouting Squadron (VS) 2)
July 1938
LTjg Charles Crommelin '31 (Fighting Squadron (VF) 2)
LTjg Robert Goodgame, Jr. '32 (Scouting Squadron (VS) 2)
LTjg George Klinsmann '33 (Torpedo Squadron (VT) 2)
LTjg Thompson Guthrie, Jr. '34 (Scouting Squadron (VS) 2)
January 1939
LTjg Burden Hastings '33 (Torpedo Squadron (VT) 2)
LTjg George Klinsmann '33 (Torpedo Squadron (VT) 2)
LTjg Richard McGowan '35 (Torpedo Squadron (VT) 2)
October 1939
LT Finley Hall '29
LT John Huntley '31
LTjg George Bellinger '32
LTjg Martin Koivisto '32
LTjg Daniel Gothie '32
LTjg Albert Major, Jr. '32
LTjg John McCormack, Jr. '33
LTjg Archibald Stone, Jr. '34
LTjg Wendell Froling '34
LT John Yoho '29 (Training Squadron (VN) 5D8)
CAPT Paul Moret '30 (Training Squadron (VN) 3D8)
LTjg Robert Strickler '32 (Training Squadron (VN) 5D8)
LTjg George Ottinger '32 (Training Squadron (VN) 5D8)
LTjg Dewitt Shumway '32 (Training Squadron (VN) 1D8)
LTjg William Widhelm '32 (Training Squadron (VN) 5D8)
June 1940
LT Finley Hall '29
LT Lance Massey '30
LT Charles Ostrom '30
LTjg George Bellinger '32
LTjg Martin Koivisto '32
LTjg Daniel Gothie '32
1LT Floyd Parks '34
LTjg Charles Ware '34
LTjg Jack Ferguson '35
LTjg Joel Davis, Jr. '35
LTjg Francis Maher, Jr. '35
LTjg John Powers '35
LTjg Robert Strickler '32 (Training Squadron (VN) 5D8)
LT William Townsend '32 (Training Squadron (VN) 5D8)
LTjg Dewitt Shumway '32 (Training Squadron (VN) 1D8)
LTjg William Widhelm '32 (Training Squadron (VN) 5D8)
November 1940
LT Clair Miller '29 (Torpedo Squadron (VT) 2)
LT Baylies Clark '30 (Torpedo Squadron (VT) 2)
LT Charles Crommelin '31 (Fighting Squadron (VF) 2)
LTjg Robert Isely '33 (Torpedo Squadron (VT) 2)
LTjg Robert Fair '33 (USS Lexington)
LTjg Raymond Moore '37 (Torpedo Squadron (VT) 2)
ENS Edward Price '39 (USS Lexington)
ENS Allan Wussow '39 (USS Lexington)
ENS Edward Seiler, Jr. '39 (USS Lexington)
ENS Willard Sampson '40 (USS Lexington)
April 1941
LT Weldon Hamilton '28 (Bombing Squadron (VB) 2)
LT Clair Miller '29 (Torpedo Squadron (VT) 2)
LT Charles Crommelin '31 (Fighting Squadron (VF) 2)
LTjg Robert Fair '33 (USS Lexington)
LTjg Joel Davis, Jr. '35 (Bombing Squadron (VB) 2)
LTjg Raymond Moore '37 (Torpedo Squadron (VT) 2)
ENS Harry Bass '38 (Bombing Squadron (VB) 2)
ENS Edward Price '39 (USS Lexington)
ENS Allan Wussow '39 (USS Lexington)
ENS Edward Seiler, Jr. '39 (USS Lexington)
ENS Willard Sampson '40 (USS Lexington)
Memorial Hall Error?
Thomas is not listed on the killed in action panel in the front of Memorial Hall. While not an obvious error, inclusion on the panel for crashes like this (incidental to combat flights) has been inconsistent across WWII, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War.
The "category" links below lead to lists of related Honorees; use them to explore further the service and sacrifice of alumni in Memorial Hall.
