FReeper Canteen ~ Hall of Heroes: SSgt Henry "Red" Erwin ~ 03 June 2019

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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.

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[The Mayor]

Freep mail me to be on or off the Daily Bread ping list

During my college days, my summers were spent working at a guest ranch in the stunningly beautiful mountains of Colorado. On a rotating basis, staff members were assigned “night watch” duty—to keep an eye out for forest fires in order to protect the guests as they slept. What initially seemed to be an exhausting and thankless task became a unique opportunity for me to be still, reflect, and find solace in the majesty of God’s presence.

King David earnestly sought and thirsted for the presence of God (Psalm 63:1), even from his bed and through the “watches of the night” (v. 6). The psalm makes it clear David was troubled. It’s possible the words contained in it reflect his deep sadness over the rebellion of his son Absalom. Yet the night became a time for David to find help and restoration in the “shadow of [God’s] wings” (v. 7)—in His power and presence.

Perhaps you’re dealing with some crisis or difficulty in your life, and the night watches have been anything but comforting. Perhaps your own “Absalom” weighs heavy on your heart and soul. Or other burdens of family, work, or finances plague your times of rest. If so, consider these sleepless moments to be opportunities to call out and cling to God—allowing His loving hand to uphold you (v. 8). 

By 

Reflect & Pray

How do God’s promises encourage you when you face challenges that keep you awake at night? How can the night watches draw you closer to Him?

Dear God, thank You for always being awake and present with me in every night watch.

[yarddog]

Every now and then I will read the story of a medal of honor winner and wonder if I could have done the same.

This one doesn’t even allow the possibility. If I was there, the plane would just have to crash.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, yarddog...he accomplished the seemingly impossible, for sure.

[radu]

Greetings to all at the Canteen!

To all our military men and women, past and present,

Reading this had me saying OMG more than once.

[PROCON]

Thanks Kathy!

Wow, Incredible heroism and love for his fellow crewmen by SSGT Erwin!

[radu]

Howdy, Kathy.

Were you able to get a nice long sleep last night? Have a do-nothing-much day? :-)

[radu]

Howdy, PRO.

Had a nice weekend? Still hot or did you get a little cool-down like we did? It’s still pretty warm here but not like it was a few days ago.

We’ve had sporadic internet issues this weekend and I hope they don’t kick up again tonight.

[jimfree]

I’ve seen this one a couple of times before and the painful images are unlike anything. We read of the hero being shot or having broken limbs, but this is so far beyond that.

What struck me today was the emergency care he got from his crewmates while aloft that kept him alive on the flight back to Iwo Jima.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, Mayor, and thank you for today’s sustenance for body and soul.

Ready to take on the new week?

[DuncanWaring]

Some Medal of Honor citations I read and flatter myself saying “On a good day, I could do that”.

This one, not a chance. That airplane would have gone down in flames.

[DuncanWaring]

If there was an award above the Medal of Honor, Sgt. Erwin would have qualified for it.

[PROCON]

Good weekend here, we're 90's today but a slight cool down is expected.

I hate internet issues, finally got mine resolved, a real relief.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, radu...any sign of rain yet?

We are pushing up into the mid 60s this week...pretty warm for us.

Sun is just starting to come out.

[luvie]

Saluting SSgt Henry "Red" Erwin
One of our finest heroes!

[left that other site]

Hi Everybody!

(((HUGS)))

[radu]

Sounds like we’ve exchanged temps. LOL! We had a long stretch of 90s and now have a stretch of 80s ahead.

Internet issues are a real pain, especially when they happen during the weekend. You know you’re stuck until the folks go back to work on Mondays. It’s something on their end, not ours.
At least the problems are sporadic and we aren’t completely without internet connection the whole weekend.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, Pro...he worked incredibly hard through horrible pain to “fix” the problem. Stunning!

[radu]

Hey there, Kathy.

No sign of rain yet but it looks like we’ll get a decent amount Wed. through Sun. The corn will certainly welcome it!

Your mid 60s sounds really nice! We got too hot too soon so I’m ready for a cool-down already. LOL

[radu]

Howdy, LUV.

Have a good day? Has it cooled off to comfy temps?
It looked nice and quiet weather-wise down there today and I imagine everyone is relieved about that.