World War II Honoree

Henry E. Erwin

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Adamsville, Alabama

Honored By

Ralph Bozorth

WAS AWARDED THE CONGRESSIONAL MEDAL OF HONOR. STAFF SERGEANT, U.S. ARMY AIR CORPS, 52ND BOMBARDMENT SQUADRON, 29TH BOMBARDMENT GROUP, 20TH AIR FORCE. PLACE AND DATE: KORIYAMA, JAPAN, APRIL 12, 1945. ENTERED SERVICE AT: BESSEMER, ALABAMA. CITATION: '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. UPON ENTERING THE ASSEMBLY AREA, AIRCRAFT FIRE AND ENEMY FIGHTER OPPOSITION WAS ENCOUNTERED. AMONG THE PHOSPHORESCE BOMBS LAUNCHED BY STAFF SERGEANT 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. STAFF SERGEANT 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. STAFF SERGEANT ERWIN'S GALLANTRY AND HEROISM ABOVE AND BEYOND THE CALL OF DUTY SAVED THE LIVES OF HIS COMRADES.'