FReeper Canteen ~ Hall of Heroes: SSgt Henry "Red" Erwin ~ March 8, 2010

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[Kathy in Alaska]

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~ Hall of Heroes ~

SSgt Henry "Red" Erwin

Info from this website.

           

 By: DaveTroll

Without counting the cost to himself, SSgt. Henry Erwin did what had to be done to save the B-29 crew.

We may marvel at the heroism and tenacity of the men whose stories have been told in this column, but few readers can truly comprehend the suffering of many Vietnam POWs, the epic struggle of Lance Sijan, or the gallantry of Jack Mathis. What they did lies beyond the realm of our experience. But most of us have borne in some small degree the kind of anguish SSgt. Henry E. Erwin endured to save the lives of his fellow crewmen. We can empathize with his suffering and perhaps more fully appreciate the depth of his heroism.

On April 12, 1945, the City of Los Angeles, a 29th Bombardment Group aircraft commanded by Capt. George Simeral, led a formation of Guam-based B-29s in a low-level attack on a chemical plant at Koriyama, some 120 miles north of Tokyo. It was the 11th combat mission for Simeral's lead crew. Alabama-born Henry Erwin, known to his family as "Gene" and to his squadron mates as "Red," was the B-29's radio operator. According to retired Colonel Simeral, a holder of the Distinguished Service Cross, Erwin was "a country boy, quiet, unassuming, religiously devout," and the best radioman of the 52d Bomb Squadron.

One of Erwin's additional duties was to drop a phosphorus smoke bomb through a chute in the B-29's floor when the lead plane reached an assembly area over enemy territory. He was given the signal to drop the bomb when the City of Los Angeles was off the south coast of Japan and under attack by flak ships. Erwin, bare-headed and with shirtsleeves rolled up, pulled the pin and released his bomb into the chute. The fuse malfunctioned, igniting the phosphorus, which burned at a temperature of 1,300 degrees. (The heating element of an electric range glows red at 1,100 degrees.) The canister blew back up the chute into Erwin's face, blinding him, searing off one ear, and filling the B-29 with heavy smoke that obscured the pilots' instrument panel.

Erwin knew that the bomb would burn through the metal floor into the bomb bay. It had to be jettisoned or the aircraft and crew were lost. Totally blind, he located the burning bomb on the floor, picked it up in his bare hands, and stumbled forward toward the flight deck, aiming to throw it out the copilot's window. As he groped his way around the gun turret, his face and arms covered with ignited phosphorus, his path was blocked by the navigator's folding table, hinged to the wall but now down and locked. The navigator had left his table to make a sighting.

Erwin needed both hands to release the table's latches. While he felt for them, he held the white-hot bomb under his bare right arm. In those seconds, the phosphorus burned through his flesh to the bone. Now a walking torch, Erwin staggered on into the pit, threw the bomb out the window, and collapsed between the pilots' seats.

Simeral, no longer blinded by smoke, pulled the B-29 out of a dive at 300 feet above the water and turned toward Iwo Jima where Erwin could be given emergency treatment. Horrified crew members extinguished the flames consuming Erwin's clothing and administered first aid. Whenever the sergeant's burns were uncovered, phosphorus embedded in his flesh began to smoulder. In terrible pain, Erwin remained conscious throughout the flight to Iwo. He spoke only to inquire about the safety of the crew.

The medics at Iwo did not believe Erwin could survive. Cutting through red tape, Army Air Force officials, spurred by Maj. Gen. Curtis LeMay and Brig. Gen. Lauris Norstad, approved award of the Medal of Honor in a matter of hours, so a presentation could be made while Erwin lived. A Medal was flown to Guam and presented in the hospital there.

Contrary to the flight surgeons' opinion, Erwin did survive. He was evacuated to the States, and after 30 months and reconstructive surgery that restored his eyesight and the use of one arm, Erwin was given a disability discharge from the AAF as a master sergeant in October 1947. For 37 years he served as a Veterans' Benefit Counselor at the VA Hospital in Birmingham.

While Erwin lay swathed in bandages in the hospital at Guam, Gen. Hap Arnold wrote: "I regard your act as one of the bravest in the records of this war." No one could argue with that judgment. Erwin was, and always will remain, a hero among heroes.

Related Links:
http://www.homeofheroes.com/wings/erwin.html
http://www.homeofheroes.com/wings/erwin_tribute.html

Citation

Rank and organization: Staff Sergeant, U.S. Army Air Corps, 52d Bombardment Squadron, 29th Bombardment Group, 20th Air Force.

Place and date: Koriyama, Japan, 12 April 1945.

Entered service at: Bessemer, Ala.

Born: 8 May 1921, Adamsville, Ala. G.O. No.: 44, 6 June 1945.

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 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.

Please remember the Canteen is here to honor, support and entertain our troops and their families.  This is a politics-free zone!  Thanks for helping us in our mission!

[ConorMacNessa]

Good morning, Beachy! *HUGS* Happy Monday!

[E.G.C.]

Had a great weekend. Chuck fell off the bed on Sunday. Thankfully we took the spring off so the bed wasn't quite as high. It only stung a little in his face for a few minutes.

Also did some work in my closet. Had some items taking up space. So, I put them in a trash sack and threw them away. Good will already had enough clothes so I guess they didn't need the stuff i had.

We are cloudy this morning. Some rain scattered around area. Storms in the forecast for later today. There are some shower and storms out in the Panhandle and South Plains moving Northeast.

[Arrowhead1952]

Good morning beachy and (((HUGS))) to you too. Bad day since FR was down until after church.

Yesterday was wet and the pup had to stay inside most of the day.

She has too much energy to be an inside dog and wanted to play all day.

[TADSLOS]

Good Morning, FReepers! IT"S MONDAY!!

[beachn4fun]

Good morning, CMN ((HUGS))

Happy Monday back atcha.

Lovely day ahead. Going to get outside any?

[CholeraJoe]

Good one. I had the distinct privilege of knowing and working with Sgt Erwin. He was the Veteran’s Assistance officer at the Birmingham, AL VA Medical Center for many years. I was first a medical student and later a staff physician at the VA and in some months had almost daily interaction with him.

Although horribly disfigured from his wounds, and presenting a somewhat gruff appearance with the stub of a cigar in his mouth, he was kind and considerate in helping Veterans obtain the benefits to which they were entitled. Woe be unto the Veteran who tried to obtain something he wasn’t due. I heard Red dress down several Vets who were looking for a lifetime of support for a trivial service-related problem.

[beachn4fun]

WHOA! Scared the crap outta me. LOL

Good morning, Tadslos

How are you on this Monday?

[beachn4fun]

Hum, I think you’re going to have to strap Chuck in his bed. Glad he wasn’t hurt badly.

Cleaning out closets sounds like a good idea.

I managed to clean out a couple of boxes from the attic.

[beachn4fun]

Boy, I know how you feel about having the dog stuck inside. I think our dogs were starting to suffer from cabin fever when we had all that snow. LOL

[TADSLOS]

I’m happier than that felonious squirrel.

[Arrowhead1952]

Yes, and this dog is a high energy animal. She really likes to run and chase her toys in the yard.

[luvie]

Hi! I’ll trade your thunderstorms for our high-wind warning! Ugh! It probably means the sand will blow. Right now it’s very still and nice, though.

Hope you have a good week, early bird!

[Arrowhead1952]

Good morning LUV W and (((HUGS))) to you.

Did you watch any of the oscars?

Who was the big whale on stage?

[luvie]

Nah, I don’t watch them. They have become way too political for the wrong side! LOL!

There are lots of whales...the first one I always think of is Michael Moore!

[Arrowhead1952]

See FReepmail.

[ConorMacNessa]

I doubt it - chained to the desk!

[unique]

Weekend, good - this week, looking good and of course, I'm looking good! What about you?

[blackie]

Thanks Kathy!

{{HUGS}}

[beachn4fun]

I’m happier than that felonious squirrel.

LOL. And why would that felonious squirrel be happy?

[beachn4fun]

Well, sure am glad to see everything is good. LOL

I had a good weekend too. Tried not to do too much but failed. Yet, feel good that I managed to clean out a couple of boxes from the attic.