William Portwood Erwin
William Portwood Erwin | |
---|---|
![]() William Portwood Erwin in 1918 | |
Nickname(s) | Bill |
Born | Ryan, Oklahoma, USA | October 18, 1895
Died | August 19, 1927 Pacific Ocean | (aged 31) (disappeared)
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 |
Lieutenant William Portwood Erwin (18 October 1895 – 19 August 1927) 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.
Early life
[edit]William Portwood Erwin was the son of W. A. Erwin of Chicago.[2] The younger Erwin, born elsewhere, was raised primarily in Chicago. Two sources claim he was born in Amarillo, Texas.[1][3]
World War I
[edit]![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9b/1st_Aero_Squadron_Salmson_2A2_France.jpg/220px-1st_Aero_Squadron_Salmson_2A2_France.jpg)
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
[edit]![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4c/Frontiers_of_Flight_Museum_December_2015_021_%28Dallas_Spirit_model%29.jpg/220px-Frontiers_of_Flight_Museum_December_2015_021_%28Dallas_Spirit_model%29.jpg)
Erwin is believed to have 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.[4]
See also
[edit]- List of people who disappeared mysteriously at sea
- List of World War I flying aces from the United States
References
[edit]- ^ a b American Aces of World War 1. p. 84.
- ^ The Aerodrome website http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/usa/erwin.php Retrieved on 11 April 2010.
- ^ a b c Over the Front: A Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the United States and French Air Services, 1914–1918, p. 37.
- ^ "William Portwood Erwin". www.theaerodrome.com. Retrieved 2021-04-25.
Bibliography
[edit]- 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.
- 1895 births
- 1920s missing person cases
- 1927 deaths
- American World War I flying aces
- Aviators from Oklahoma
- Aviators killed in aviation accidents or incidents in the United States
- Missing aviators
- Missing person cases in California
- People from Ryan, Oklahoma
- People lost at sea
- Recipients of the Distinguished Service Cross (United States)
- Victims of aviation accidents or incidents in 1927
- Military personnel from Chicago