World War II Medal of Honor Recipient. He received the award from US Army Air Forces Pacific Area Commander Major General Willis H. Hale, at the US Army hospital, Guam, on April 19. 1945, for his actions as a staff sergeant with the 52nd Bombardment Squadron, 29th Bombardment Group, US Army Air Forces, on April 12, 1945, in the sky over Koriyama, Japan. Following the US entry into World War II, he joined the US Army Reserve. In February 1943 he was called to active duty as an aviation cadet but washed out of flight school and retrained as a radio operator and mechanic. He was then assigned to the 52nd Bombardment Squadron, 29th Bombardment Group, 12th Air Force and his unit was sent to the Pacific Theater of Operations in early 1945. On April 12, 1945, he was serving as the radio operator aboard a Boeing B-29 Superfortress named "City of Los Angeles" when the incident took place, for which his heroism won him the Medal of Honor. Badly burned and at the risk of dying, his award was rapidly approved and specially flown to the hospital where he was being treated in order to expedite the award ceremony. He survived and was flown back to the US for more intensive treatment that included 41 surgeries and the ability to regain his vision and use of his right arm. He was medically discharged from the US Army Air Force at the rank of master sergeant in October 1947. He also received the Purple Heart and Air Medal (with one oak leaf cluster). Afterwards, he worked as a benefits counsellor at the veterans' hospital in Birmingham, Alabama. In 1951, his story was included in the movie, "The Wild Blue Yonder" and he was portrayed by actor Dave Sharpe. He died at the age of 80. His Medal of Honor citation reads: "He was the radio operator of a B-29 airplane leading a group formation to attack Koriyama, Japan. He was charged with the additional duty of dropping phosphoresce smoke bombs to aid in assembling the group when the launching point was reached. Upon entering the assembly area, aircraft fire and enemy fighter opposition was encountered. Among the phosphoresce bombs launched by S/Sgt. Erwin, 1 proved faulty, exploding in the launching chute, and shot back into the interior of the aircraft, striking him in the face. The burning phosphoresce obliterated his nose and completely blinded him. Smoke filled the plane, obscuring the vision of the pilot. S/Sgt. Erwin realized that the aircraft and crew would be lost if the burning bomb remained in the plane. Without regard for his own safety, he picked it up and feeling his way, instinctively, crawled around the gun turret and headed for the copilot's window. He found the navigator's table obstructing his passage. Grasping the burning bomb between his forearm and body, he unleashed the spring lock and raised the table. Struggling through the narrow passage he stumbled forward into the smoke-filled pilot's compartment. Groping with his burning hands, he located the window and threw the bomb out. Completely aflame, he fell back upon the floor. The smoke cleared, the pilot, at 300 feet, pulled the plane out of its dive. S/Sgt. Erwin's gallantry and heroism above and beyond the call of duty saved the lives of his comrades."