William Portwood Erwin
Lieutenant William Portwood Erwin was an American World War I flying ace credited with eight aerial victories.[1] On 19 August 1927, he disappeared during the Dole Air Race from Oakland, California to Hawaii.
William Portwood Erwin | |
|---|---|
 William Portwood Erwin, 1918 | |
| Nickname(s) | Bill |
| Born | October 18, 1895 Ryan, Oklahoma, USA |
| Died | August 19, 1927 (disappeared) Pacific Ocean |
| Allegiance |  |
| Service/ | Air Service, United States Army |
| Rank | Lieutenant |
| Unit | Air Service, United States Army
|
| Battles/wars |  |
| Awards | Distinguished Service Cross, French Croix de Guerre |
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. Two sources claim he was born in Amarillo, Texas.[1][3]
World War I
Erwin was assigned to the 1st Aero 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.[3]
Postwar
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Erwin died during the Dole Air Race between Oakland, California and Hawaii.[3] 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.[2]
References
- American Aces of World War 1. p. 84.
- The Aerodrome website http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/usa/erwin.php Retrieved on 11 April 2010.
- Over the Front: A Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the United States and French Air Services, 1914–1918, p. 37.
Bibliography
- American Aces of World War 1 Harry Dempsey. Osprey Publishing, 2001. ISBN 1-84176-375-6, ISBN 978-1-84176-375-0.
- Over the Front: A Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the United States and French Air Services, 1914–1918 Norman L. R. Franks, Frank W. Bailey. Grub Street, 1992. ISBN 0-948817-54-2, ISBN 978-0-948817-54-0.