William Portwood Erwin
Encyclopedia
Lieutenant William Portwood Erwin was a World War I flying ace
credited with eight aerial victories.
A2 pilot, he scored his victories between 15 September and 22 October 1918; half of them were with gunner Arthur Easterbrook
.
between Oakland, California and Hawaii. 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.
Flying ace
A flying ace or fighter ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down several enemy aircraft during aerial combat. The actual number of aerial victories required to officially qualify as an "ace" has varied, but is usually considered to be five or more...
credited with eight aerial victories.
Early life
William Portwood Erwin was the son of W. A. Erwin of Chicago. The younger Erwin, born elsewhere, was a Chicago native also.World War I
Erwin was assigned to 1st Observation Squadron on 19 July 1918. As a Salmson 2Salmson 2
|-References:* Davilla, James J., & Soltan, Arthur M., French Aircraft of the First World War. Stratford, Connecticut: Flying Machines Press, 1997. ISBN 0-9637110-4-0...
A2 pilot, he scored his victories between 15 September and 22 October 1918; half of them were with gunner Arthur Easterbrook
Arthur Easterbrook
Lieutenant Arthur Edmund Easterbrook started his career as a World War I flying ace credited with five aerial victories. During World War II, he held several important positions in the U. S. Army Air Corps.-Early life:...
.
Postwar
Erwin died during the Dole Air RaceDole Air Race
The Dole Air Race, also known as the Dole Derby, was a tragic air race to cross the Pacific Ocean from northern California to the Territory of Hawaii in August 1927. Of the 15-18 entrant airplanes, 11 were certified to compete but three crashed before the race, resulting in three deaths...
between Oakland, California and Hawaii. He flew the Dallas Spirit
Dallas Spirit
Dallas Spirit, , was a custom built aircraft designed to compete in the ill-fated Dole Air Derby between California and Hawaii.-Development:...
, a custom aircraft built by the Swallow Airplane Company
Swallow Airplane Company
In January 1920, the E.M. Laird Aviation Co. Ltd. was started with the purchase of the six month old Witchita Aircraft Company, it's aircraft and the factory of the Watkins Manafacturing Company. Oilman Jacob Mollendick and Buick-Franklin salesman W.A. Burke each contributed $15,000.The first...
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.