William_Portwood_Erwin
William Portwood Erwin
American flying ace
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.
William Portwood Erwin | |
|---|---|
William Portwood Erwin in 1918 | |
| Nickname(s) | Bill |
| Born | (1895-10-18)October 18, 1895 Ryan, Oklahoma, USA |
| Died | August 19, 1927(1927-08-19) (aged 31) (disappeared) Pacific Ocean |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Service/ | 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 |
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]
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]
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]
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- 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.
- "William Portwood Erwin". www.theaerodrome.com. Retrieved 2021-04-25.
- 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.