PL - Edward James Watkins Survived

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"A" Able flying through the Eiffel Tower? (although this event likely happened, this photograph is likely fake.) It is signed by the late Bill Bryant RAF who was the navigator of that aircraft piloted by Bob Boorman RCAF. The caption reads "This Stars Stripes photograph was taken on 14 September 1944 and shows a Mosquito Mk XIII of 409 Squadron RCAF. Pilot - W/O Bob Boorman RCAF Navigator F/S Bill Bryant RAF Flying through the Eiffel Tower."
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Watkins, Edward James (Flight Commander)

Survived 1918-February

Male Head

Canada

Birth Date: unkown date (age 25)

Born: Toronto, Ontario

Edward James Watkins & Elizabeth Louden

Dorothy McCullough

Home: Toronto, Ontario

Enlistment: to report for instruction:5RS Sqn, then 33HD Sqn.

Enlistment Date: 1915-12-15

Service
RAF

Unit
7 (BR) Sqn- Squadron (RFC)

Base
44 Wing, 88CTS, North Toronto, 1918-01-00

Rank

Flight Commander

Marshal
Air Chief Marshal	A/C/M
Air Marshal	A/M
Air Vice Marshal	A/V/M
Air Commodore	A/C
Group Captain	G/C
Wing Commander	W/C
Squadron Leader	S/L
Flight Lieutenant	F/L
Flying Officer	F/O
Pilot Officer	P/O
Warrant Officer 1st Class	WO1
Warrant Officer 2nd Class	WO2
Flight Sergeant	FS
Sergeant	SGT
Corporal	CPL
Senior Aircraftman	SAC
Leading Aircraftman	LAC
Aircraftman 1st Class	AC1
Aircraftman 2nd Class	AC2

Position
pilot

Service Numbers

Watkins did his flying training at the Curtiss School, Toronto and was accepted in the RFC as a 2nd-Lieutenant. On arrival in England he was sent first to 5 Reserve Sqn. and later to 33 Home Defense Sqn for advanced flight Training and received RAeC Cert. 2394. On 1916-05-17 He was posted to 7 Sqn in France. On 1917-07-27 he was made a Flight Commander with 7 Sqn, with the rank of Captain. In January 1918 he was posted back to Canada as an instructor and in February was made a Flight Commander instructor at 44th Wing, Toronto.

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