“Lives of the Aces in Pictures – Part 23: William P. Erwin” by Eugene Frandzen
Back with another of Eugene Frandzen’s Lives of the Aces in Pictures from Flying Aces Magazine. The series ran for almost four years with a different Ace featured each month. This week it’s Lt. William Portwood Erwin, featured in the May 1934 issue.
Erwin was assigned to the 1st Observation Squadron in July of 1918. Flying Salmson 2A2s, he and his observers are credited with eight victories! He was awarded the Distinguished Service Crossfor extrodinary heroism in action in the Chateau-Thierry and St Mihiel Salients theaters. And for a dangerous infantry liaison mission at night that he had volunteered for—on his third day with the 1st Observation, he recieved the French Croix de Guerre!
He continued in aviation after the war, conducting a flying school at Love Field, Dallas.
The Dole Air Race of 1927—a race from California to Hawaii. While searching for two lost air race planes and their passengers, he was last heard radio that his plane went into a tail spin and he called for help about 592 miles out in the Pacific Ocean. His plane, “Dallas Spirit” and its occupants were never found.
- Download “Lives of the Aces in Pictures – Part 23: William P. Erwin (May 1934, Flying Aces)
I am a distant cousin (second) . my father was Barto Erwin, son of John Henry who was a brother of William Albert, William Portwood ’s father. Looking at family history
Comment by ann warzyn — October 19, 2020 @ 6:18 pm