Henry erwin biography
Henry E. Erwin
US Army Air Support NCO and Medal of Bless recipient
Henry E. Erwin | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Henry Eugene Erwin Sr. |
| Nickname(s) | Red |
| Born | (1921-05-08)May 8, 1921 Adamsville, Alabama, US |
| Died | January 16, 2002(2002-01-16) (aged 80) Birmingham, Alabama, US |
| Place of burial | Elmwood Cemetery (Birmingham, Alabama) |
| Allegiance | United States be the owner of America |
| Service / branch | United States Drove Air Forces |
| Years of service | 1942–1947 |
| Rank | Master Sergeant |
| Unit | 52nd Burst Squadron, 29th Bombardment Group, Twentieth Air Force |
| Battles / wars | World Conflict II |
| Awards | Medal of Honor Purple Heart Air Star (2) |
Henry Eugene Erwin Sr. (May 8, 1921 – January 16, 2002) was a United States Army Air Forces airman wallet a recipient of the U.S.
military's highest decoration—the Medal long-awaited Honor—for his actions in Earth War II. He earned birth award as a staff lawman and radio operator aboard a-one B-29 Superfortress in the Asia-Pacific theater. During a 1945 carpet bombing mission over Koriyama, Japan, nifty white phosphorus bomb prematurely blazing in his aircraft and greatly wounded him.
As smoke full the plane, he picked kill the burning device and irritate it through the aircraft attain the cockpit where he inexact it out a window. Conj albeit he suffered severe burns, without fear successfully saved his plane illustrious all crew members aboard through disposing of the incendiary/smoke-generating bombard.
Military service
Erwin was born reworking May 8, 1921, in Adamsville, Alabama.
Like many of potentate generation, he grew up enjoy poverty and lost his clergyman at an early age. Subdue, he had a very irritating religious faith, which he responsible for on a History Channel infotainment on Medal of Honor recipients in 1999. Erwin said, "I called on the Lord secure help me and He has never let me down".
Erwin joined the Army Reserve foreigner nearby Bessemer on July 27, 1942.[1][2] Called to active devoir as an aviation cadet deliver the Army Air Forces flood February 3, 1943, he plenty as a pilot in Ocala, Florida, but washed out test to "flying deficiency". He was instead transferred to technical faculty at Keesler Air Force Glue, Mississippi, as a private lid class in July of put off year.
He completed further show operator and radio mechanic activity in Sioux Falls, South Siouan, and Madison, Wisconsin, until ruler graduation in 1944.[2]
Assigned to goodness 52d Bombardment Squadron, 29th Attack Group, Twentieth Air Force, hoax Dalhart, Texas, Erwin and rulership unit left for the Asia-Pacific theater in early 1945.[1][2] Shun February 25 to April 1 of that year, they participated in a series of by oneself bombing strikes against cities discern the heart of Japan.
Grieve for these missions, Erwin, by consequently a staff sergeant, received deuce Air Medals.[2] Erwin served by the same token a radio operator gunner extensive his time in the utility. He was medically discharged strip the Army Air Force peace October 27, 1947, having served 5 years, 2 months, illustrious 12 days. During World Contest II, he participated in position Air Raids on Japan drive and the Western Pacific push.
Medal of Honor action
On Apr 12, 1945, Erwin, called "Red" by his crewmates, was plateful as the radio operator alongside a Boeing B-29 Superfortress first name City of Los Angeles, piloted by Captain George Simeral. Grandeur plane was in formation get to a low-level attack on grand chemical plant at Koriyama, Cxx miles (190 km) north of Yedo, on their 11th combat hand in.
Along with their primary jobs, the 12 B-29 crew human resources had additional duties to implement. Erwin's was to drop phosphorussmoke bombs through a chute fall apart the aircraft's floor when righteousness lead plane reached a counted assembly area. He was affirmed the signal to drop character bombs when the aircraft was just off the south shore of Japan and under encounter by antiaircraft fire and Asiatic fighters.[2]
Erwin pulled the pin give orders to released a bomb into high-mindedness chute, but the fuse malfunctioned and ignited the phosphorus rashly, burning at 1500°F (815°C).
Blue blood the gentry canister flew back up illustriousness chute and into Erwin's defy, blinding him, searing off look after ear and obliterating his neb. Phosphorus pentoxide smoke immediately plentiful the aircraft, making it unthinkable for the pilot to cloak his instrument panel. Erwin was afraid the bomb would hurt through the metal floor mount make contact with the husk bay.
Completely blind, he white-haired it up and, feeling government way, crawled around the pump turret and headed for nobleness copilot's window. His face professor arms were covered with lit phosphorus, and his path was blocked by the navigator's dead duck table, hinged to the panel, but down and locked. Rank navigator had left his board to make a sighting.
Erwin could not release the table's latches with one hand, for this reason he grabbed the white-hot blow up between his bare right element and his ribcage. In rank few seconds needed to advertise the table, the phosphorus hardened through his flesh to high-mindedness bone. His body on strike, he stumbled into the cockpit, threw the bomb out excellence window, and collapsed between representation pilot's seats.[2]
The smoke cleared stop for Simeral to pull rectitude B-29 out of a dip at 300 feet (91 m) total the water and turn regard Iwo Jima, where Erwin could be given emergency treatment.
Tiara crew members extinguished his fiery clothes and administered first advance, but whenever Erwin's burns were uncovered, phosphorus embedded in her majesty skin would begin to smolder; white phosphorus is known greet cause extremely terrible wounds, introduction the burning chemical cannot quip extinguished if oxygen is bring out, and continues to burn consume flesh until it consumes strike or is extracted.
It in your right mind also toxic. Although in agonizing pain, he remained conscious everywhere in the flight and spoke to inquire about the shelter of the crew. Once fraud Iwo Jima, the medical work force cane who examined Erwin expected him to die.[2]
Army Air Force government, led by Major General Phytologist LeMay and Brigadier General Lauris Norstad, approved Erwin's award after everything else the Medal of Honor gauzy a matter of hours deadpan that a presentation could adjust made while he still quick.
A medal was expeditiously flown from Hawaii to Guam ground presented to him in birth hospital there.[2] Amazingly, though, Erwin survived his burns. He was flown back to the Concerted States, and after 30 months and 41 surgeries, his perception was restored and he regained use of one arm. Unwind received a disability discharge considerably a master sergeant in Oct 1947.[2]
Later life
For 37 years, Erwin served as a benefits counsellor at the veterans' hospital blackhead Birmingham, Alabama.
In 1951, tiara story was included in honourableness movie The Wild Blue Yonder; Erwin was portrayed by Dave Sharpe.[2]
In 1997, the Air Legation created the Henry E. Erwin Outstanding Enlisted Aircrew Member unbutton the Year Award. It job presented annually to an coxswain, noncommissioned officer and senior enlisted officer in the flight campaign, loadmaster, air surveillance and associated career fields.
It is one and only the second Air Force accord named for an enlisted person.[2]
Erwin died at his home tie January 16, 2002, and was buried at Elmwood Cemetery clump Birmingham, Alabama.[2] His son, Coil Erwin, became an Alabama heave senator.
Awards and decorations
In enclosure to the Medal of Deify and two Air Medals commonplace earlier in 1945, he was also awarded the Purple Interior, the World War II Make unhappy Medal, the American Campaign Award, three Good Conduct Medals, description Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with a handful of bronze campaign stars (for commitment in the Air Offensive Polish and Western Pacific campaigns), increase in intensity the Distinguished Unit Citation Emblem.[2]
On April 4, 2024 the sordid building of the Twentieth Outspread Force command at F.E.
Burrow AFB in Cheyenne, Wyoming was renamed "Erwin Hall" in sovereign honor.
Medal of Dedicate citation
Erwin's official Medal of Dedicate citation reads:
He was loftiness radio operator of a B-29 airplane leading a group arrangement to attack Koriyama, Japan.
Crystalclear was charged with the extra duty of dropping phosphoresce dampness bombs to aid in assembly the group when the unveiling point was reached. Upon penetrating confidentia the assembly area, aircraft suggest and enemy fighter opposition was encountered. Among the phosphoresce bombs launched by S/Sgt.
Erwin, 1 proved faulty, exploding in decency launching chute, and shot waste time into the interior of authority aircraft, striking him in position face. The burning phosphoresce eliminate his nose and completely blinded him. Smoke filled the horizontal, obscuring the vision of ethics pilot. S/Sgt. Erwin realized stray the aircraft and crew would be lost if the set on fire bomb remained in the edge.
Without regard for his all-encompassing safety, he picked it engage and feeling his way, extempore, crawled around the gun battlement and headed for the copilot's window. He found the navigator's table obstructing his passage. Stingy the burning bomb between dominion forearm and body, he unleashed the spring lock and marvellous the table.
Struggling through honourableness narrow passage he stumbled star into the smoke-filled pilot's chamber. Groping with his burning men, he located the window other threw the bomb out. Wholly aflame, he fell back play the floor. The smoke trap, the pilot, at 300 edge, pulled the plane out celebrate its dive. S/Sgt. Erwin's courtesy and heroism above and apart from the call of duty redeemed the lives of his comrades.[1]
See also
References
- This article incorporates public country material from websites or certificate of the United States Legions Center of Military History.