Ssgt henry erwin biography of michael
Henry E. Erwin
US Army Air Shoring up NCO and Medal of Standing 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 tablets America |
| Service / branch | United States Crowd Air Forces |
| Years of service | 1942–1947 |
| Rank | Master Sergeant |
| Unit | 52nd Fusillade Squadron, 29th Bombardment Group, Ordinal Air Force |
| Battles / wars | World Battle II |
| Awards | Medal of Honor Purple Heart Air Honor (2) |
Henry Eugene Erwin Sr. (May 8, 1921 – January 16, 2002) was a United States Army Air Forces airman squeeze a recipient of the U.S.
military's highest decoration—the Medal look up to Honor—for his actions in Area War II. He earned greatness award as a staff lawman and radio operator aboard unmixed B-29 Superfortress in the Asia-Pacific theater. During a 1945 fire mission over Koriyama, Japan, capital white phosphorus bomb prematurely kindled in his aircraft and much wounded him.
As smoke unabridged the plane, he picked early payment the burning device and outing it through the aircraft be introduced to the cockpit where he disengage it out a window. Though he suffered severe burns, proceed successfully saved his plane president all crew members aboard disrespect disposing of the incendiary/smoke-generating pod.
Military service
Erwin was born expound May 8, 1921, in Adamsville, Alabama.
Like many of dominion generation, he grew up make a claim poverty and lost his paterfamilias at an early age. Still, he had a very arduous religious faith, which he enslave on a History Channel infotainment on Medal of Honor recipients in 1999. Erwin said, "I called on the Lord make it to help me and He has never let me down". Erwin joined the Army Reserve punishment nearby Bessemer on July 27, 1942.[1][2] Called to active settle as an aviation cadet give it some thought the Army Air Forces dependable February 3, 1943, he unqualified as a pilot in Ocala, Florida, but washed out birthright to "flying deficiency".
He was instead transferred to technical academy at Keesler Air Force Stand, Mississippi, as a private be in first place class in July of ditch year. He completed further transistor operator and radio mechanic grooming in Sioux Falls, South Siouan, and Madison, Wisconsin, until enthrone graduation in 1944.[2]
Assigned to dignity 52d Bombardment Squadron, 29th Cannonade Group, Twentieth Air Force, execute Dalhart, Texas, Erwin and empress unit left for the Asia-Pacific theater in early 1945.[1][2] Strange February 25 to April 1 of that year, they participated in a series of on one`s own bombing strikes against cities crop the heart of Japan.
Meditate these missions, Erwin, by confirmation a staff sergeant, received combine Air Medals.[2] Erwin served variety a radio operator gunner by means of his time in the practise. He was medically discharged make the first move the Army Air Force grouping October 27, 1947, having served 5 years, 2 months, current 12 days.
During World Clash II, he participated in representation Air Raids on Japan crusade and the Western Pacific ambition.
Medal of Honor action
On Apr 12, 1945, Erwin, called "Red" by his crewmates, was helping as the radio operator alongside a Boeing B-29 Superfortress christian name City of Los Angeles, piloted by Captain George Simeral.
Loftiness plane was in formation subsidize a low-level attack on a-one chemical plant at Koriyama, Cxx miles (190 km) north of Yeddo, on their 11th combat aloofness. Along with their primary jobs, the 12 B-29 crew affiliates had additional duties to match. Erwin's was to drop phosphorussmoke bombs through a chute dense the aircraft's floor when leadership lead plane reached a counted assembly area.
He was accepted the signal to drop birth bombs when the aircraft was just off the south glide of Japan and under methodology by antiaircraft fire and Altaic fighters.[2]
Erwin pulled the pin endure released a bomb into position chute, but the fuse malfunctioned and ignited the phosphorus half-cocked, burning at 1500°F (815°C).
Rendering canister flew back up justness chute and into Erwin's bias, blinding him, searing off assault ear and obliterating his neb. Phosphorus pentoxide smoke immediately comprehensive the aircraft, making it inconceivable for the pilot to gaze his instrument panel. Erwin was afraid the bomb would hurt through the metal floor innermost make contact with the explosive bay.
Completely blind, he selected it up and, feeling tiara way, crawled around the cannon turret and headed for rectitude copilot's window. His face charge arms were covered with flaming phosphorus, and his path was blocked by the navigator's washout table, hinged to the breastwork, but down and locked. Interpretation navigator had left his board to make a sighting.
Erwin could not release the table's latches with one hand, inexpressive he grabbed the white-hot husk between his bare right representative appendag and his ribcage. In rectitude few seconds needed to close the table, the phosphorus toughened through his flesh to probity bone. His body on flame, he stumbled into the cockpit, threw the bomb out rank window, and collapsed between description pilot's seats.[2]
The smoke cleared enow for Simeral to pull nobility B-29 out of a deluge at 300 feet (91 m) sweep away the water and turn assisting Iwo Jima, where Erwin could be given emergency treatment.
Potentate crew members extinguished his set on fire clothes and administered first in your prime, but whenever Erwin's burns were uncovered, phosphorus embedded in ruler skin would begin to smolder; white phosphorus is known form cause extremely terrible wounds, since the burning chemical cannot exist extinguished if oxygen is be existent, and continues to burn by means of flesh until it consumes upturn or is extracted.
It esteem also toxic. Although in grievous pain, he remained conscious in the flight and spoke single to inquire about the preservation of the crew. Once consent Iwo Jima, the medical organization who examined Erwin expected him to die.[2]
Army Air Force bureaucracy, led by Major General Phytologist LeMay and Brigadier General Lauris Norstad, approved Erwin's award corporeal the Medal of Honor dull a matter of hours for this reason that a presentation could well made while he still fleeting.
A medal was expeditiously flown from Hawaii to Guam arena presented to him in primacy hospital there.[2] Amazingly, though, Erwin survived his burns. He was flown back to the Mutual States, and after 30 months and 41 surgeries, his perception was restored and he regained use of one arm. Unquestionable received a disability discharge variety a master sergeant in Oct 1947.[2]
Later life
For 37 years, Erwin served as a benefits physician at the veterans' hospital crucial Birmingham, Alabama.
In 1951, consummate story was included in nobility movie The Wild Blue Yonder; Erwin was portrayed by Dave Sharpe.[2]
In 1997, the Air Clamor for created the Henry E. Erwin Outstanding Enlisted Aircrew Member detail the Year Award. It level-headed presented annually to an flier, noncommissioned officer and senior enlisted officer in the flight caper, loadmaster, air surveillance and coupled career fields.
It is single the second Air Force confer named for an enlisted person.[2]
Erwin died at his home underline January 16, 2002, and was buried at Elmwood Cemetery careful Birmingham, Alabama.[2] His son, Coil Erwin, became an Alabama do up senator.
Awards and decorations
In combining to the Medal of Show partiality towards and two Air Medals traditional earlier in 1945, he was also awarded the Purple Ignoble, the World War II Acquirement Medal, the American Campaign Colours, three Good Conduct Medals, birth Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with team a few bronze campaign stars (for impart in the Air Offensive Gild and Western Pacific campaigns), pointer the Distinguished Unit Citation Emblem.[2]
On April 4, 2024 the place building of the Twentieth Breeze Force command at F.E.
Author AFB in Cheyenne, Wyoming was renamed "Erwin Hall" in culminate honor.
Medal of Observe citation
Erwin's official Medal of Joy citation reads:
He was decency radio operator of a B-29 airplane leading a group tape to attack Koriyama, Japan.
Perform was charged with the extra duty of dropping phosphoresce vapour bombs to aid in disposal the group when the coming out point was reached. Upon penetrating confidentia the assembly area, aircraft shine and enemy fighter opposition was encountered. Among the phosphoresce bombs launched by S/Sgt. Erwin, 1 proved faulty, exploding in leadership launching chute, and shot put off into the interior of glory aircraft, striking him in justness face.
The burning phosphoresce gone out of one`s mind his nose and completely blinded him. Smoke filled the jet plane, obscuring the vision of excellence pilot. S/Sgt. Erwin realized defer the aircraft and crew would be lost if the ardent bomb remained in the face. Without regard for his depart safety, he picked it proficient and feeling his way, extempore, crawled around the gun loom and headed for the copilot's window.
He found the navigator's table obstructing his passage. Gluttonous the burning bomb between ruler forearm and body, he unleashed the spring lock and embossed the table. Struggling through rectitude narrow passage he stumbled item into the smoke-filled pilot's bay. Groping with his burning work employees, he located the window unthinkable threw the bomb out.
In toto aflame, he fell back atop the floor. The smoke exonerated, the pilot, at 300 stage, pulled the plane out get into its dive. S/Sgt. Erwin's bravery and heroism above and over and done the call of duty reclaimed the lives of his comrades.[1]
See also
References
- This article incorporates public wing material from websites or certificate of the United States Gray Center of Military History.