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In 1949 Lt. Col Edner was an "Air Attache" to Greece. At the time Greece was involved in a Civil War with communist guerrillas. While flying in the back seat as an observer in a Greek AT-6 reconnaissance plane, the aircraft was shot down by guerrilla AA fire near Karpenision, Greece. The pilot, Lieutenant Panayiotis Tsoukas was killed and Lt. Col Edner was injured in the crash landing. All evidence indicates that he was hanged by the enemy and brutally mutilated. The following newspaper article provides a more explicit accounting:
Greek Guerrillas Accused In Slaying
Mutilation of U.S. Colonel is Charged
ATHENS, Feb 18 (AP)-U.S. Army headquarters said today that an unarmed American observer, Lieut. Col Selden R. Edner, 30, San Jose, Calif., had been 'brutally killed' by Greek guerrillas after his plane crash-landed in Karpenision Jan. 21. The Greek pilot of the plane, Lieut. Panayiotis Tsoukas, also was killed, an army statement said. Their plane, a small trainer on a reconnaissance mission, presumably was shot down by guerrilla fire.
The army statement said the testimony of Greek witnesses indicated Colonel Edner was alive when he was captured by guerrillas shortly after the crash. When his mutilated body was discovered on Feb. 9, the statement said, 'Its head had been beaten and crushed beyond recognition and there was a noose about his neck.' The body was stripped of outer clothing. Colonel Edner's body was positively identified from medical records, the statement said. He was a member of the Joint U.S. Military advisory and planning group in Greece." Source: Toledo Blade, Toledo, Ohio, Friday, February 18, 1949
Comments/Citation:
Lt. Col. Selden Edner was born in January 26, 1919 in Fergus Falls, Minnesota, but resided in San Jose, California when he was turned down by the American Air Force because he was too tall. He joined the Royal Canadian Air Force in 1940. After flight school he was assigned to No. 121 Eagle Squadron, RAF, in England where he distinquished himself an ace pilot. In September of 1942 he was transferred to the U.S. Army Air Forces in England and promoted to Captain. By this time he had flown the Hawker Hurricane, Spitfire, and Seafire 47. He returned to the United States and served as an instructor pilot until he joined the 336th Fighter Squadron in England in October of 1943. He took command of the 336th in November of 1943 as a Lieutenant Colonel. In January of 1944 he was Operations Officer for the 4th Fighter Group and later Executive Officer of the 4th FG. On March 8, 1944, he was forced to bail out over Germany and taken Prisoner of War. He was released to the U.S. in June of 1945 and after the war returned to flying service.
