John "Ellis" Edwards (May 17, 1922 – June 3, 1979)[1] was an American aviator who served with the Tuskegee Airmen during World War II.

[4] After high school graduation he and his brother Jerome both attended West Virginia State College.

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 Messerschmitt Bf 109s on an escort mission.

[3][2] Shortly after he was discharged the Korean War began, and he joined the Air Force, serving in the 332nd Fighter Group and flew many combat missions in the F86 Sabre.