John Ellis Edwards

Lt. Col John "Ellis" Edwards (May 17, 1922 – June 3, 1979) was a member of the famed group of World War II-era African-Americans known as the Tuskegee Airmen. He was a recipient of the Congressional Gold Medal in 2007. Edwards served in the 332nd Fighter Group and earned the Distinguished Flying Cross award. He also served as a pilot in the Korean War.
Military service.
World War II.
His brother Jerome Edwards was a pilot in the Tuskegee Airmen and was killed in a training exercise May 7, 1943 when his P-40 suffered a catastrophic failure upon takeoff. His brother's death was the first for the 332nd Fighter Group. 
After graduating from West Virginia State College and completing WVSC's civilian pilot program, John Ellis Edwards went to Tuskegee where he became a pilot and was assigned to the 99th Fighter Squadron, 332nd Fighter Group. He graduated from Tuskegee and was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant April 8, 1944. In 1945 he was sent to Italy and assigned to Ramitelli Air Force Base where he and other Tuskegee pilots escorted allied planes on bombing runs. On April 1, 1945 he was acting as squadron section leader, when he shot down two enemy ME-109’s on an escort mission. Edwards was awarded Distinguished flying Cross. 
Shortly after he was discharged the Korean War began. Edwards joined the Air Force and flew many combat missions in a F86 Sabre. He held the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. 
Edwards hometown, Steubenville, OH is known as the "City of Murals". There is a mural (located along Washington Street in Steubenville) dedicated to John Ellis Edwards and his brother Jerome Edwards. Both were Tuskegee airmen. He and his brother also have their names engraved in the Tuskegee Airmen Memorial located in Sewickley Cemetery in Sewickley, Pennsylvania.
Personal life.
Edward and Willie Edwards were his parents. He had a brother (Jerome) and sister (Gwendolyn). His parents moved to Steubenville, Ohio and he and his siblings attended Steubenville High School.
After high school graduation John Ellis Edwards and his brother Jerome Edwards both attended Virginia State College. The college became one of the first black colleges to enroll pilots in a Pilot Training Program and both brothers enrolled in the program. Both brothers became Tuskegee Airmen after completing training in Tuskegee. 
He rejoined the Air Force during the Korean War, and served in the 332nd Fighter Group. After the Korean War he moved to Washington, D.C., and later he moved to Los Angeles, California.