Edward Cody Herlihy was born on October 14, 1918, in Beverly, Massachusetts. He was the son of John and Julia Herlihy. He had two brothers John F and James, and two sisters, Mary and Anne.

Edward enlisted in the USAAF on June 5, 1942, and carried out gunnery and other training in the United States before joining the 407th Bomb Squadron, 92nd Bombardment Group based at RAF Podington, England.

Edward was the Right Waist Gunner on board the B17 #42-30821 'The Sweetest One' that crashed near the village of Burton Dassett, England, on November 13, 1943. All ten airmen on board perished. Sgt Herlihy is now buried in the Saint Mary's Cemetery, Salem, Essex County, Massachusetts. His name is commemorated on a plaque located in Burton Dassett, but his surname is spelled 'Herhily.'

Source of information: www.findagrave.com