Sat Feb 11 2012
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Frankfort Face: Edwin Moore
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Edwin Moore wasn’t interested in fast fighter planes or powerful bombers. Instead he would soar over the Mediterranean Ocean in a flying boat.
“I liked it straight and level,” says the 89-year-old. “No real hard turns or acrobatics.”
He was a flight engineer in a PBY Catalina search and rescue plane near Italy from 1944 to 1945 during World War II. The Catalina could land on water to pick up downed airmen and take off again.
Born on May 2, 1920, Edwin grew up on Pea Ridge Road where his family owned a farm. With the threat of war looming, he decided to join the Air Force in 1940.
“They were talking about drafting people, and I didn’t want to go somewhere else.”
He became an aircraft mechanic and taught others how to maintain and repair engines after the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor in 1941.
In 1944, he was sent to the Mediterranean theater and joined an air-sea rescue squadron. As flight engineer, he was responsible for making sure the Catalina flying boat stayed in the air.
The plane had a crew of nine, including pilots, engineers, medics and radio operators. With two 1,200 horsepower engines, the Catalina had a cruising speed of 120 mph and a range of almost 2,500 miles.
Edwin’s crew would accompany Allied bombers when they attacked German targets and pick up pilots, friend or foe, who were shot down.
“We picked up everyone. Nobody shot at us. Our purpose was saving lives.”
Many of the rescued pilots were unconscious and stayed afloat with their life vests.
Edwin’s crew used radar and radio messages to locate their targets. Once a German ship even told Edwin’s crew where to find some stranded American pilots.
“We didn’t have any trouble with the Germans.”
Doctors and medics were on board to help the injured.
Everyone was happy to be rescued, even those who would become prisoners of war.
“They were tickled to death. If you were out in the middle of the ocean, you’d be thanking the Lord if someone comes to get you.”
Edwin never rescued anyone he knew and usually never saw the men again.
The plane was easy to maintain and never gave Edwin any trouble. The hardest part was trying to land on rough water.
If they couldn’t land, Edwin’s crew would drop an inflatable boat and other supplies to the pilots.
He had the chance to visit Rome and Naples, Italy, and said he enjoyed visiting the historical sites. Once in Naples, Edwin and his friends gave candy bars to Italian youngsters whose parents invited them in for dinner.
“They used all their rations to fix us a big dinner. They were really good cooks. They were happy to have us there.”
Edwin was going to be sent to fight Japan after Germany surrendered in May 1945. But the war ended after the atomic bombs were dropped in August 1945.
He went home and used his G.I. benefits to train as a bricklayer, but that didn’t last for long.
He soon started an air taxi service in Frankfort where he flew Piper Aztec and DC3 planes from Capital City Airport.
His fares included businessmen and several politicians including former Govs. Julian Carroll, Bert Combs and Wendell Ford.
Other clients included Bill May of Brighton Engineering who frequently visited the Bahamas.
He also served as a chief deputy fire marshal for the state for a few years and married his wife, Clara, in 1974. She managed a restaurant in Frankfort and liked to travel with Edwin, although she doesn’t like flying.
“We would do whatever we wanted whenever we wanted. We didn’t wait for a special occasion.”
They were married in Tennessee and didn’t tell any friends until after they returned.
“We didn’t want anything big,” Edwin said.
He has an adult daughter from a previous marriage and enjoys fishing for bluegill at Kentucky Lake.
His daily routine includes eating lunch and socializing at the Senior Activity Center.
Edwin continued flying until 1981 and said the Aztec and DC3 were the best planes because they could land on any airfield.
He only remembers one emergency when an engine caught fire while he was flying over Ohio. Edwin shut the fuel off and put the plane into a dive to put out the flames.
He quickly landed at the nearest airfield.
“It’s still safer than an automobile,” he said.
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