World War II Honoree

Dwight E. Erwin

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Louisville, Illinois

Honored By

Robert Medley Gatewood

A PROFESSIONAL SOLDER WITH 13 YEARS PRIOR ACTIVE SERVICE, HE RE-ENLISTED ON JUNE 8, 1941 AS A TECHNICAL SERGEANT IN THE AIR CORPS ADVANCE FLYING SCHOOL’S 90TH SCHOOL SQUADRON AT CRAIG FIELD, SELMA, ALABAMA. AT THAT TIME, HE WAS QUALIFIED AS AN AIRCRAFT MACHINIST, AIRPLANE MECHANIC, AND INSTRUMENT INSTRUCTOR. ON MAY 17, 1942, HE ACCEPTED A COMMISSION AS A FIRST LIEUTENANT AT THE SAME STATION AND CONTINUED SERVICE AS AN AIRCRAFT MAINTENANCE OFFICER (MILITARY OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTY 4823). THEREAFTER, DEPARTED THE CONTINENTAL U.S. ON AUGUST 3, 1943 BOUND FOR THE CHINA-BURMA-INDIA THEATER OF OPERATIONS AND SERVED IN THE INDIA-BURMA CAMPAIGN. RELEASED FROM ACTIVE DUTY AND SERVICE AS AN OFFICER WITH SQUADRON C, 565TH ARMY AIR FORCES BASE UNIT AT RENO ARMY AIR BASE, NEVADA ON OCTOBER 21, 1945 AND IMMEDIATELY RE-ENLISTED AS A MASTER SERGEANT. CONTINUED SERVICE THROUGH THE OFFICIAL END OF THE WAR, AND RETIRED FROM SQUADRON K-2, 3502ND BASE UNIT, CHANUTE AIR FORCE BASE, RANTOUL, ILLINOIS ON MAY 31, 1948. EARNED THE DISTINGUISHED UNIT BADGE, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN DEFENSE SERVICE MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH 1 BRONZE BATTLE STAR AND THE WWII VICTORY MEDAL.