Master Sgt. Henry E. Erwin Memorial - Lackland AFB, Texas - Specific Veteran Memorials on Waymarking.com

B-29
...an enlisted story.

Master Sgt. Henry E. Erwin

For combat aircrews the danger isn't always from flak and enemy fighters.  It sometimes comes from within as Staff Sgt. Henry "Red" Erwin found out April 12, 1945, during a B-29 mission over Koriyama, Japan.  One of the young radio operator's duties was to trigger and drop a phosphorous flare to signal other bombers in the formation to release their lethal loads.  A faulty arming device ignited the flare but failed to release it.  Despite injuries from the phosphorus flash, Sergeant Erwin grabbed the flare, which burned at a metal-melting 1,300 degrees, and made for the front of the aircraft where he successfully jettisoned it through the co-pilot's window.  As he lapsed into unconsciousness, Sergeant Erwin inquired about the crew's safety.  Officials rushed through a recommendation for the Medal of Honor fully expecting the hero to die from his burns, but he survived and was later discharged with the rank of Master Sergeant.  He went on to serve the Veterans Administration for more than 30 years. ~ text of plaque

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Date Logged Log User Rating   08/07/2010 Team 57 visited it