Edward Francis John Charles | |
|---|---|
&sq=Envato&lang=en&file=File:Edward_Charles,_1943.jpg) Charles seated in the cockpit of his Spitfire fighter, 1943 | |
| Born | 6 February 1919 Coventry, England |
| Died | 5 November 1986 (aged 67) Vancouver, Canada |
| Allegiance | Canada |
| Service | Royal Canadian Air Force Royal Air Force |
| Years of service | 1938–1939 (RCAF) 1939–1944 (RAF) 1944–1951 (RCAF) |
| Rank | Wing Commander |
| Commands | RAF Tangmere Portreath Wing Middle Wallop Wing No. 611 Squadron |
| Battles / wars | Second World War |
| Awards | Distinguished Service Order Distinguished Flying Cross and Bar Silver Star (United States) |
Edward Francis John Charles, DSO, DFC & Bar (6 February 1919 – 5 November 1986) was an English-born Canadian officer and flying ace who served in the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) and the Royal Air Force (RAF) during the Second World War. During his service with the RAF, he was credited with at least fifteen aerial victories.
Born in Coventry, Charles's family emigrated to Saskatchewan in Canada when he was a child. He joined the RCAF in early 1938 and transferred to the RAF the following year. After his training was completed, he was posted to No. 81 (Communications) Squadron. He volunteered to serve with Fighter Command in August 1940 and was sent to No. 54 Squadron, flying the Supermarine Spitfire fighter. He flew during the later stages of the Battle of Britain, then in the Circus offensive the following year, during which he claimed several aircraft destroyed. Awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) in July 1941, he spent the final few months of the year and most of 1942 on instructing duties.
Charles returned to operations in early 1943 and was soon appointed commander of No. 611 Squadron. Later in the year, he flew as a wing leader from Middle Wallop and then Portreath. During this time he was awarded the Distinguished Service Order, having already received a bar to his DFC earlier in the year. He subsequently took up a staff role at No. 10 Group and was later transferred to the RCAF. He later served on the staff of the Allied Expeditionary Air Forces and as commander of Tangmere station. In the postwar period he remained in the RCAF but by 1949 had developed schizophrenia and was discharged from the RCAF on medical grounds two years later. He spent the remainder of his life in hospital care in Vancouver where he died in 1986, aged 67.