| Henry E. Erwin, Sr. | |
|---|---|
| May 8, 1921 – January 16, 2002 (aged 80) | |
 Henry Erwin |
|
| Nickname | "Red" |
| Place of birth | Adamsville, Alabama |
| Allegiance | United States of America |
| Service/branch | United States Army Air Forces |
| Rank | Master Sergeant |
| Unit | 29th Bombardment Group, 20th Air Force |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
| Awards | Medal of Honor Purple Heart |
Henry E. Events 589 - Reccared summons the Third Council of Toledo 1450 - Jack Cade's Rebellion: Kentishmen Year 1921 ( MCMXXI) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display full 1921 calendar of the Gregorian calendar Events 27 BC - The title Augustus is bestowed upon Gaius Julius Caesar Octavian by the Roman Senate. See also 2002 (disambiguation Year 2002 ( MMII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. Adamsville is a city in Jefferson County, Alabama, United States. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the The United States Army Air Forces ( USAAF) was the military aviation arm of the United States of America during and immediately after World War II. A master sergeant is the Military rank for a senior Non-commissioned officer in some armed forces Twentieth Air Force is a Numbered Air Force of the United States in Air Force Space Command (AFSPC World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. The Purple Heart is a United States military decoration awarded in the name of the President to those who have been wounded or killed while serving Erwin, Sr. , (May 8, 1921 – January 16, 2002) was a United States Army Air Forces airman and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration—the Medal of Honor—for his actions in World War II. Events 589 - Reccared summons the Third Council of Toledo 1450 - Jack Cade's Rebellion: Kentishmen Year 1921 ( MCMXXI) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display full 1921 calendar of the Gregorian calendar Events 27 BC - The title Augustus is bestowed upon Gaius Julius Caesar Octavian by the Roman Senate. See also 2002 (disambiguation Year 2002 ( MMII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. The United States Army Air Forces ( USAAF) was the military aviation arm of the United States of America during and immediately after World War II. The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including
Contents |
Biography
Erwin joined the Army from Bessemer, Alabama, and by April 12, 1945 was serving as a Staff Sergeant in the 52nd Bombardment Squadron, 29th Bombardment Group, 20th Air Force. Bessemer is a city in southwestern Jefferson County, Alabama, United States and a suburb of Birmingham near Hueytown. Events 467 - Anthemius is elevated to Emperor of the Western Roman Empire. Year 1945 ( MCMXLV) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar For the Brush-footed butterfly Species, see Athyma selenophora. Twentieth Air Force is a Numbered Air Force of the United States in Air Force Space Command (AFSPC During a bombing mission on that day, over Koriyama, Japan, a smoke bomb exploded prematurely in his aircraft and seriously wounded him. is a city located in the center of the Nakadōri region of Fukushima, Tōhoku, Japan. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Japan topics. A smoke bomb is a Firework designed to produce Smoke upon ignition As smoke filled the plane, he picked up the burning device and carried it through the aircraft to the cockpit where he tossed it out a window. Although he suffered severe burns, he successfully saved his plane by disposing of the smoke-generating bomb. For these actions, he was awarded the Medal of Honor two months later, on June 6, 1945. Events 1508 - Maximilian I Holy Roman Emperor, is defeated in Friulia by Venetian forces; he is forced to sign a three-year Year 1945 ( MCMXLV) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar
Erwin reached the rank of Master Sergeant before leaving the Army. A master sergeant is the Military rank for a senior Non-commissioned officer in some armed forces His son, Hank Erwin, became an Alabama state senator. Henry Eugene "Hank" Erwin Jr) is a Christian evangelical broadcaster and a Republican State Senator in Alabama ( USA) representing the 14th District The Alabama Senate is the Upper house of the Alabama Legislature, the state legislature of the U Henry Erwin died at age 80 and was interred at Birmingham's Elmwood Cemetery. Elmwood Cemetery is a 412- Acre (167-hectare Cemetery established in the 1880s (as Elm Leaf Cemetery on the western side of Birmingham in Jefferson
Medal of Honor citation
Erwin's official Medal of Honor citation reads:
He was the radio operator of a B-29 airplane leading a group formation to attack Koriyama, Japan. He was charged with the additional duty of dropping phosphoresce smoke bombs to aid in assembling the group when the launching point was reached. Phosphorescence is a specific type of Photoluminescence related to fluorescence. A smoke bomb is a Firework designed to produce Smoke upon ignition Upon entering the assembly area, aircraft fire and enemy fighter opposition was encountered. Among the phosphoresce bombs launched by S/Sgt. Erwin, 1 proved faulty, exploding in the launching chute, and shot back into the interior of the aircraft, striking him in the face. The burning phosphoresce obliterated his nose and completely blinded him. Smoke filled the plane, obscuring the vision of the pilot. S/Sgt. Erwin realized that the aircraft and crew would be lost if the burning bomb remained in the plane. Without regard for his own safety, he picked it up and feeling his way, instinctively, crawled around the gun turret and headed for the copilot's window. He found the navigator's table obstructing his passage. Grasping the burning bomb between his forearm and body, he unleashed the spring lock and raised the table. Struggling through the narrow passage he stumbled forward into the smoke-filled pilot's compartment. Groping with his burning hands, he located the window and threw the bomb out. Completely aflame, he fell back upon the floor. The smoke cleared, the pilot, at 300 feet, pulled the plane out of its dive. S/Sgt. Erwin's gallantry and heroism above and beyond the call of duty saved the lives of his comrades.
See also
References
- Henry E. Erwin at Find A Grave Retrieved 2008-02-12
- Medal of Honor Recipients - World War II (A-F). The Medal of Honor is the highest military award in the US military. This is a list of United States military personnel who received the Medal of Honor for their actions during World War II. Find A Grave is a Website allowing its users to access maintain and expand an online Database of Burial records 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Events 1429 - English Forces under Sir John Fastolf defend a supply convoy carrying rations to the army besieging Orleans from attack by the Medal of Honor Citations. U. S. Army Center of Military History (July 16, 2007). Events 622 - The beginning of the Islamic calendar. 1054 - Three Roman legates fractured relations between the Western and Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Retrieved on 2008-02-12. 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Events 1429 - English Forces under Sir John Fastolf defend a supply convoy carrying rations to the army besieging Orleans from attack by the
Dapyx Software network: MP3 Explorer | Ebook Manager | Zenithic