Medal of Honor Recipient: Staff Sergeant Henry E. Erwin
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 attackKoriyama ,
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.
Citation: He was the radio operator of a B-29 airplane leading a group formation to attack
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