William Portwood Erwin

William Portwood Erwin

William Portwood Erwin, 1918
Nickname(s) Bill
Born (1895-10-18)October 18, 1895
Ryan, Oklahoma, USA
Died c. August 1927 (disappeared)
Pacific Ocean
Allegiance  United States
Service/branch Air Service, United States Army
Rank Lieutenant
Unit

Air Service, United States Army

Battles/wars  World War I
Awards Distinguished Service Cross, French Croix de Guerre

Lieutenant William Portwood Erwin was a World War I flying ace credited with eight aerial victories.[1]

Early life

William Portwood Erwin was the son of W. A. Erwin of Chicago.[2] The younger Erwin, born elsewhere, was a Chicago native also.[3]

World War I

Erwin was assigned to 1st Observation Squadron on 19 July 1918. As a Salmson 2A2 pilot, he scored his victories between 15 September and 22 October 1918; half of them were with gunner Arthur Easterbrook.[4]

Postwar

Erwin died during the Dole Air Race between Oakland, California and Hawaii. He flew the Dallas Spirit, a custom aircraft built by the Swallow Airplane Company on credit for the attempt. Erwin failed to return from a search for two other missing competitors, the Miss Doran and The Golden Eagle, and is presumed drowned 19 August 1927.[5]

See also

References

  1. ↑ American Aces of World War 1. p. 84.
  2. ↑ http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/usa/erwin.php Retrieved on 11 April 2010.
  3. ↑ American Aces of World War 1. p. 84.
  4. ↑ http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/usa/erwin.php Retrieved on 11 April 2010.
  5. ↑ http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/usa/erwin.php Retrieved on 11 April 2010.

Bibliography

American Aces of World War 1 Harry Dempsey. Osprey Publishing, 2001. ISBN 1-84176-375-6, ISBN 978-1-84176-375-0.


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