Edward Dvorak

Edward J. Dvorak May 31, 1921 – October 3, 2010 Edward James was born on May 31, 1921 to Frank and Mae Dvorak in Berwyn, Illinois. Ed was one of five children. He graduated from Morton High School in Chicago and at 17 he was the youngest pilot in Illinois. After high school Edward joined the Army Air Corps (he lied about his age) and went into flying school. He was stationed in Hawaii and was a crew chief gunner during the Pearl Harbor attack and the Battle of Midway. He went to Luke Field, Arizona for flight training in fighter planes. Edward became a fighter pilot and flew P-38s and P-51s over Europe during World War II. Edward was stationed in Colchester, England and flew 76 missions over Europe including support during the D-Day invasion. He received 6 Oak Leaf Clusters, the Air Medal, Distinguished Flying Cross, and the Presidential Unit Citation. Between 1948 and 1949 he flew cargo missions during the Berlin Airlift. Edward was a maintenance advisor for the Republic of Korea Air Force in 1957. He retired as a Major from the Air Force on August 31, 1959. Edward married Rose Dvorak in 1944 and had two children Diane Noetzelmann of Lakewood, and Ronald Dvorak of Denver. Edward and Rose lived in Lakewood since his retirement. They have 4 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren. Ed was an avid fisherman, hunter, skier, and outdoorsman. He was a carpenter, and built several houses in Elmhurst, Illinois and two cabins in Dillon Colorado. He loved to refinish furniture and his basement was a woodworkers delight with tools, lamp parts, glass, and every type of wood imaginable stocked away in the shelving. He enjoyed sitting at his work table, listening to Czech music working on a chair or piece of stained glass. He was a member of the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association and “43 D” the Luke Field Graduation Class of the 43rd Fighter Squadron which still meet in Colorado Springs.