The chemical plant produced tetraethyl lead, a critical ingredient in high-octane aviation gasoline. XXI Bomber Command’s Mission #65 for 12 April 1945 was an attack against the Hodogaya Chemical Plant (Target #2025) at Koriyama, a city on the island of Honshu, Japan. (Alabama Department of Archives & History Q8799) Standing, Pershing Younkin, navigator Roy Stables, pilot William Loesch, bombardier Leo D. Erwin, radio operator Howard Stubstad, CFC gunner. Air Force 170331-F-ZZ999-103)) Crew of the B-29 Superfortress “City of Los Angeles:” Front row, left to right: Vern W. “Red Erwin stands with a painting depicting his act of heroism in the B-29 bomber, City of Los Angeles, on that fateful day.” (U.S. Erwin’s gallantry and heroism above and beyond the call of duty saved the lives of his comrades. The smoke cleared, the pilot, at 300 feet, pulled the plane out of its dive. Completely aflame, he fell back upon the floor. Groping with his burning hands, he located the window and threw the bomb out. Struggling through the narrow passage he stumbled forward into the smoke-filled pilot’s compartment. Grasping the burning bomb between his forearm and body, he unleashed the spring lock and raised the table. He found the navigator’s table obstructing his passage. 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. Erwin realized that the aircraft and crew would be lost if the burning bomb remained in the plane. Smoke filled the plane, obscuring the vision of the pilot. The burning phosphoresce obliterated his nose and completely blinded him.

Erwin, 1 proved faulty, exploding in the launching chute, and shot back into the interior of the aircraft, striking him in the face. Among the phosphoresce bombs launched by S/Sergeant. Upon entering the assembly area, aircraft fire and enemy fighter opposition was encountered. He was charged with the additional duty of dropping phosphoresce smoke bombs to aid in assembling the group when the launching point was reached. Place and date: Koriyama, Japan, 12 April 1945.Ĭitation: He was the radio operator of a B-29 airplane leading a group formation to attack Koriyama, Japan. Army Air Corps, 52d Bombardment Squadron, 29th Bombardment Group, 20th Air Force. Rank and organization: Staff Sergeant, U.S. STAFF SERGEANT HENRY EUGENE ERWIN (Air Mission) Private First Class Henry Eugene Erwin, Air Corps, United States Army, circa 1943.

B29 cockpit photos