VETERANS’ SERVICE RECOGNITION BOOK – VOLUME 21 / 45 THE ROYAL CANADIAN LEGION PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND COMMAND CLOW, Edwin Thomas WWII Edwin was born in Summerside, PEI on September 3, 1922, the youngest son of Albert and Josephine (Arsenault) Clow. He joined the Royal Canadian Air Force on October 27, 1941, and served in World War II until he was honourably discharged on August 30, 1945. He was a Wireless Air Gunner (WO/AG), and flew mostly on Lockheed Hudson aircraft. During the war, the 269 Squadron patrolled the oceans looking for German U-boats and Anti Shipping boats. They were on constant watch for U Boat and Shipping Harbour attacks, and were on surveillance to pick up survivors from downed aircraft. Edwin started his service in Canada, was attached to the RAF #31 Operational Training Unit (OTU), in Debert, Nova Scotia, training on Hudson Aircraft. He then went to the OTU in Yorkshire, England, and over the next four years moved on to bases in Iceland, Northern Scotland, back to England, Gibraltar, and the Azores, patrolling the skies and waters in the North Atlantic and South Atlantic. His squadron was highly mobile, and he was stationed for brief periods of time in England at Bournemouth, Thornaby (training in Rockets), South Hampton, Torquay (teaching wireless operators), Penzance, East Fortune Iceland, and Turnbury, Scotland. Edwin has received the five standard medals from his World War II service – 1939-1945 Star, Atlantic Star, Victory Medal, Canadian Volunteer Service Medal and the Air Crew of Europe Medal. The most important of these medals is the Tour of Operations Medal which he received at the RCAF Headquarters in London, England after he completed his tour of duty. In addition, he has in his collection several medals that were made/distributed to veterans over many years. Post World War II, Edwin settled in Montreal where he studied Refrigeration. After receiving his Certificate in Refrigeration, he worked for a brief time in Montreal, transferred to Moncton, then returned to Summerside where he worked for 36 years as Plant Engineer for Amalgamated Dairies Ltd. He resided in Summerside and had four children, William Frederick, Charles Albert, Judith Ann, and Dorothy Jean. Edwin was an active member of the George R. Perkes, VC #5 Branch of The Royal Canadian Legion in Summerside for 67 years, and has served as President of the Royal Canadian Air Force Association. Edwin passed away on June 17, 2022, just shy of his 100th birthday.
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