Background
William Portwood Erwin was the son of W. A. Erwin of Chicago.
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William Erwin
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Career
The younger Erwin, born elsewhere, was a Chicago native also. Erwin was assigned to 1st Observation 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.
Erwin 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 cr for the attempt.
Erwin failed to return from a search for two other missing competitors, the Mission Doran and The Golden Eagle, and is presumed drowned 19 August 1927.
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Born
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Died
August 19, 1927 (aged 31) -
Nationality
United States