William Portwood Erwin

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 / branch	Air Service, United States Army
Rank	Lieutenant
Unit	Air Service, United States Army 1st Aero Squadron
Battles / wars	World War I
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. On 19 August 1927, he disappeared during the Dole Air Race from Oakland, California to Hawaii.

Early life

William Portwood Erwin was the son of W. A. Erwin of Chicago. The younger Erwin, born elsewhere, was raised primarily in Chicago. Two sources claim he was born in Amarillo, Texas.

World War I

See also: Aerial victory standards of World War I

1st Aero Squadron Salmson 2A2 in a hangar in France.

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.

Postwar

A Frontiers of Flight Museum display replica of the Dallas Spirit.

Erwin is believed to have died during the Dole Air Race 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.

See also

• List of people who disappeared mysteriously at sea
• List of World War I flying aces from the United States

Bibliography

• 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.