Edward Backus was born on July 16, 1906, in Vernon, Texas. After receiving his bachelor's degree from Washington and Lee University in 1929, he worked as a teacher and athletic coach. Backus enlisted in the Flying Cadet program of the U.S. Army Air Corps on March 2, 1932, and was commissioned a 2d Lt and awarded his pilot wings at Randolph Field, Texas, in February 1933. Lt Backus served with the 3rd Attack Group at Fort Crockett, Texas, from February 1933 until he left active duty in December 1934, returning to active duty in January 1936, again serving with the 3rd Attack Group, this time at Barksdale Field, Louisiana. He left active duty a second time in November 1936, and flew with Pan American Airways until being recalled to active duty in 1940. Lt Backus served as operations officer with the 16th Bomb Squadron of the 27th Bomb Wing at Barksdale Field and Savannah Army Air Base, Georgia, until November 1941, and then deployed with the 27th Dive Bomb Group to the Philippines. After the Japanese attack on the Philippines in December 1941, Capt Backus went with the group to Brisbane, Australia, where he served until February 1942. He then led the 16th Dive Bomb Squadron to Java and was credited with sinking a Japanese Cruiser in the Straits of Lambok the same month. His next assignment was on the staff of 10th Air Force in New Delhi, India, from late February to July 1942, followed by service on the staff of 9th Air Force in Cairo, Egypt, from July to September 1942. Col Backus next served as commander of the 12th Bomb Group in North Africa from September 1942 to September 1943, and then returned to the U.S. where he served as director of combat operations at the Army Air Forces School of Applied Tactics in Orlando, Florida, from October 1943 to March 1944. Gen Backus deployed to England and served as commander of the 97th Bomb Wing from April 1944 to January 1946, followed by service in the Office of the Secretary of War from February to March 1946. He served as chief of staff of Headquarters 10th Air Force at Brooks Field, Texas, from March 1946 to August 1947, followed by Air War College at Maxwell AFB, Alabama, from August 1947 to June 1948. He served as a liaison officer to the House of Representatives from July 1948 to August 1950, and then attended National War College from August 1950 to July 1951. His next assignment was with Headquarters U.S. Air Force in the Pentagon from July 1951 to August 1952, followed by service as commander of the 29th Air Defense Division at Great Falls AFB, Montana, from August 1952 to September 1953. Gen Backus was commander of the 43rd Air Defense Division in Japan from September 1953 to September 1954, and then served on the staff of 5th Air Force in Japan until July 1955. He was commander of the 39th Air Division in Japan from July 1955 to July 1956, and then commander of the 35th Air Division (later renamed the 35th North American Air Defense Division) at Dobbins AFB, Georgia, from July 1956 to January 1959. Gen Backus served as commander of the 32nd Air Division at Dobbins AFB from January to July 1959, and then served as a member of the Secretary of the Air Force Personnel Council at the Pentagon from July 1959 until his retirement from the Air Force on August 1, 1961. Edward Backus died on March 30, 1973, and was buried at the Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery in San Antonio, Texas.