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FReeper Canteen ~ Hall of Heroes: SSgt Henry "Red" Erwin ~ March 8, 2010
Serving The Best Troops and Veterans In The World !! | StarCMC

Posted on 03/07/2010 5:00:00 PM PST by Kathy in Alaska


Our Troops Rock!  Thank you for all you do!
 
For the freedom you enjoyed yesterday... Thank the Veterans who served in The United States Armed Forces.
 
Looking forward to tomorrow's freedom? Support The United States Armed Forces Today!
 
 
~ Hall of Heroes ~

SSgt Henry "Red" Erwin

Info from this website.

ArmyPatch small   NavySeal small   Air Force Seal   Marines Seal small   Coast Guard Seal small (better)
 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 crew of the City of Los Angeles, Major General Willis Hale, and Red Erwin at the presentation of his Medal of Honor.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.
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TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News; Free Republic
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To: SevenofNine

mine?


201 posted on 03/08/2010 1:19:59 PM PST by tomkow6 (...................TOMKOW6 ! The ONLY voice of reason & sanity in a chaotic Canteen!...............)
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To: Lady Jag

Cool facts! I have grown very attached to my “fake” name! :D
....and answer to it if called by it by fellow FReepers!


202 posted on 03/08/2010 1:46:41 PM PST by luvie (DIMs?......start packin'--you're fired!)
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To: E.G.C.

Good afternoon, E...((HUGS))...a little bit of snow going on right now, probably heavier tonight. Hope you have had a good Monday.


203 posted on 03/08/2010 1:49:26 PM PST by Kathy in Alaska (~ RIP Brian...heaven's gain...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~)
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To: Eaker; thackney
Almost all the names on Free Republic are fake!

Almost.

204 posted on 03/08/2010 1:55:21 PM PST by Allegra (It doesn't matter what this tagline says...the liberals are going to call it "racist.")
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To: tomkow6

Good afternoon, tom...snowing here. Have a good Monday.


205 posted on 03/08/2010 1:59:43 PM PST by Kathy in Alaska (~ RIP Brian...heaven's gain...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~)
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To: tomkow6

Thanks, unique, for the kitty!

tom.....#150 and #200!!


206 posted on 03/08/2010 2:06:16 PM PST by Kathy in Alaska (~ RIP Brian...heaven's gain...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~)
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To: Allegra

SHhhhh....

You’ll blow my cover.

Signed,
T. Hackney


207 posted on 03/08/2010 2:06:29 PM PST by thackney (life is fragile, handle with prayer)
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To: beachn4fun
Hello and goodbye....I didn't even get to look in til lunchtime. Issues, issues, issues. I've had 3 revisions to the same timecard so far.

Oh....it's snowing and a co-worker just came in from lunch and said there are accidents everywhere...one 2 cars in front of her.


208 posted on 03/08/2010 2:26:14 PM PST by Kathy in Alaska (~ RIP Brian...heaven's gain...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~)
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To: antisocial

Happy Monday, antisocial...thanks for bumping by.


209 posted on 03/08/2010 2:28:29 PM PST by Kathy in Alaska (~ RIP Brian...heaven's gain...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~)
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To: Kathy in Alaska
No snow hewre! Temps in the low 40's today!

WooooHOOO!

210 posted on 03/08/2010 2:37:15 PM PST by tomkow6 (...................TOMKOW6 ! The ONLY voice of reason & sanity in a chaotic Canteen!...............)
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To: Lady Jag

Well, with my last name, everyone in my unit would recognize my postings. I may get Jim Rob to change it to something later - after I retire.


211 posted on 03/08/2010 2:41:39 PM PST by Arrowhead1952 (Hey zero, It is NOT Bush's fault anymore.)
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To: Kathy in Alaska

I just took the pup out for her two mile walk, and we both worked up a sweat. She was taaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrddddddddd.


212 posted on 03/08/2010 2:43:01 PM PST by Arrowhead1952 (Hey zero, It is NOT Bush's fault anymore.)
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To: Arrowhead1952

Good girl....taaaarrrrddd is a good walk. You ready for a nap now? Has your rain started?


213 posted on 03/08/2010 3:02:24 PM PST by Kathy in Alaska (~ RIP Brian...heaven's gain...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~)
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To: Kathy in Alaska

Looks like the rain will not be as bad as predicted. There is one small line headed our way now, but nothing near as bad as the earlier forecasts.


214 posted on 03/08/2010 3:07:44 PM PST by Arrowhead1952 (Hey zero, It is NOT Bush's fault anymore.)
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To: Allegra; thackney

Some of us aren’t very creative!


215 posted on 03/08/2010 3:21:01 PM PST by Eaker (Where I'm from, "Gang Colors" is Realtree and Mossy Oak. You know what I'm saying hoss. Rule.308.)
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To: tomkow6

Hey Tomkow I got question for you

How your Cubs this season

MY LA DOdgers going SUCKS


216 posted on 03/08/2010 3:34:34 PM PST by SevenofNine ("We are Freepers, all your media belong to us, resistence is futile")
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To: beachn4fun

Fine as can be Thank you and how are you?


217 posted on 03/08/2010 4:28:31 PM PST by antisocial (Texas SCV - Deo Vindice)
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To: Kathy in Alaska

Thanks to you and the crew for all you do!


218 posted on 03/08/2010 4:33:10 PM PST by antisocial (Texas SCV - Deo Vindice)
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To: TADSLOS

Happy Monday, TADLOS!


219 posted on 03/08/2010 4:47:06 PM PST by Kathy in Alaska (~ RIP Brian...heaven's gain...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~)
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To: CholeraJoe

Good afternoon, CholeraJoe, and thank you for sharing your experiences with this brave hero. He could have given up so easily.


220 posted on 03/08/2010 5:01:42 PM PST by Kathy in Alaska (~ RIP Brian...heaven's gain...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~)
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