EGAN, EDWARD JAMES Rank: Sergeant Service No: 742787 Date of Death: 17/09/1940 Age: 19 Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve 501 Sqdn. Grave Reference 24. D. 16. Cemetery BROOKWOOD MILITARY CEMETERY Additional Information: Son of James Edward and Grace Alice Draggan Egan, of East Dulwich, London. F/O Alan F.Eckford was a member of No 32 Squadron, he shot down a Bf 109 on the 19th of May 1940 Eckford was posted to No 242 Hurricane Squadron, he went with them to France for ten hectic days before France fell and they returned to England. Eckford rejoined No 32 Squadron at the end of July, where he destroyed a Bf 109 and a Dornier Do17 on the 18th of August 1940. F/O A.F.Eckford destroyed three more enemy aircraft before the end of the Battle and was awarded the D.F.C. on the 24th of December 1940. S/L Gerry Edge flew with No 253 Squadron in Hurricane's during the Battle of Britain. On the 26th of September 1940 at 11:00hrs. He baled out of his Hurricane I (P2958) after combat over the Channel and was rescued. Sgt A.Edgley of No 253 Squadron was wounded on the 29th of September 1940 at 16:25hrs. He was shot down in his Hurricane I (P2677) during combat with a Bf 109 over the Newhaven and baled out. Sgt G.H.Edworthy of No 46 Squadron was killed on the 3rd of September 1940 at 10:35hrs. His Hurricane I (P3064) was lost in combat over the Essex coast. P/O N.D.Edmond a Canadian with No 615 Squadron was wounded on the 29th of October 1940 at 12:45hrs. His Hurricane I (V6785) was badly damaged in combat. P/O H.P.M.Edridge of No 222 Squadron was wounded with slight burns on the 30th of August 1940 when he baled out of his Spitfire I (K9826) over Barham, Kent after combat with a Bf 109 at 18:00hrs. H.P.M.Eldridge was K.I.A. on the 30th of October 1940 when he crash landed his Spitfire I (K9939) after combat with a Bf 109 over Ewhurst at 12:15hrs. P/O Eric F.Edsall joined No 54 Squadron on the 1st of August 1940. Edsall destroyed three enemy aircraft before the 31st of August when at 13:15hrs, he was one of three pilots attempting to take off in the middle of an air-raid. His Spitfire I (X4236) was blown sideways across the airfield, spinning around and landing upright. He managed to get out of the wreck, but his legs were so badly injured he could not stand. He crawled over to F/O A.C.Deere's inverted Spitfire I (R6895) where Deere was trapped in his cockpit, hanging in his harness. Edsall managed to wrench off the cockpit door and free Deere, who was then able to take Edsall to the sick bay. Sgt J.Davis was the other pilot trying to get airborn. Edsall was posted to No 222 Squadron when he had recovered from his injuries and added only one more kill to his score by the Battle's end. But he did have another crash in a Spitfire I (X4548), on the 27th of October 1940 when he ran out of fuel after combat and he was injured when he crash landed near Hailsham at 14:05hrs. He was awarded the D.F.C. on the 16th of January 1942, he was killed in a Japanese attack on Ceylon on the 12th of April 1942, aged 24. P/O Henry Davies Edwards a Canadian flew Spitfire's with No 92 Squadron during the Battle of Britain. He was killed on the 11th of September 1940 at 19:00hrs. His Spitfire I (P9464) had been in combat with some Bf 109's. The Spitfire crashed near Smeeth in Kent. F/O R.L.Edwards a Canadian of No 1 (RCAF) Squadron was shot down by defensive fire from a Do 17, he crashed his Hurricane I (P3874) at Little Bardfield, Essex and was killed on the 26th of August 1940 at 15:40hrs. F/Lt R.S.J.Edwards an Irishman of No 56 Squadron baled out of his Hurricane I (P3088) after combat over Portland on the 30th of September 1940 at 17:00hrs. He was unhurt. Sgt E.J.Egan was posted to No 615 Squadron from No 600 Squadron on the 27th of August 1940, then to No 501 Squadron on the 13th of September 1940. E.J.Egan shot down a Bf 109 on the 15th of September. Egan was shot down in flames at 15:40hrs over Ashford on the 17th of September 1940, by a Bf 109, aged 19, and recorded as "missing", his Hurricane I (P3820) remains could not be located. It was not until the 11th of September 1976 that the crash site was found and excavated. Egan`s remains could not be positively identified, and he was buried as "an unknown airman" with full military honours. In November 1978 the site was again examined and positive evidence found to prove it was Egan's aircraft. His grave marker was changed accordingly. E-pilots
