KER, Edgar Andrew

Stats:

rank: P/O
status: survived
airforce: RCAF    (no: J16824 )
born: 1922-01-05 Fenwick, Hamilton Canada

added by: AdeMottram

At Pelham Continuation School before the war Edgar was on the shooting team in the cadet corps.

Edgar Andrew “Bud” Ker started as a Sergeant pilot, earning his wings on 20 August 1941, and ended the war in command of 401 Squadron. After a brief spell with 611 he joined 145 Squadron RAF on 6th January 1942, then based at Catterick for training. On 11 February the Squadron entrained for service overseas.

Arriving in Egypt in April they were the first squadron equipped with Spitfires in North Africa. Operational flying started on 1 June. At the end of July Bud was promoted to Flight Sergeant.

From the DFC citation at the IWM: “ This officer has taken part in many operational sorties in the course of which he has destroyed three enemy aircraft and damaged others. In May 1942 when on patrol over Cap Bon Peninsula he sighted a force of more than 18 Me.109s. He succeeded in breaking up the formation and destroyed one of the enemy aircraft. Officer Ker has always displayed great keenness to engage the enemy and continual devotion to duty.” NB this text is from the IWM, I think the date of the patrol should be 1943, not 1942.

After the war Edgar returned to his home town, trained as a chemistry teacher and served Pelham District High School as Principal from 1965 until its closure in 1974.