By Deborah Larsen
Edward Francis Madden
Edward Francis Madden was born in Rochester, Michigan, on February 14, 1921, the son of Charles and Eva Brandel Madden. Edward attended Rochester High School and graduated in the class of 1939. After high school, he was employed by the Pontiac Appliance Company.
In September 1942, Edward entered the U.S. Army Air Forces and was trained as an aerial gunner. On September 28, 1944, a B-17 on which he was serving as a crew member was shot down over Germany. It was his 11th mission. Edward was captured by enemy patrols near Tangerhütte, Germany, and sent to Stalag 3. He remained a prisoner until Allied forces entered Germany and liberated the camps in May 1945.
At the same time that Edward was a prisoner of war, his brother, Thomas, was also a prisoner of war at Stalag 7A after being shot down over Italy. Edward was awarded the Air Medal and the Prisoner of War medal. He was released from military service in October 1945.
After the war, Edward married, worked as a salesman, and eventually relocated to Oregon.
Edward Francis Madden died at age 64 on October 6, 1985.