Sergeant Henry Erwin embraced the burning phosphorus bomb, accepting the flesh made of flesh, to save the bombing of 11 teammates during World War II.

Henry Eugene Erwin Sr.

In July 1942, Erwin joined the Army Reserve forces in Bessemer.

The most soldier Erwin moved to the Technical School at the Keesler Air Force Base in Mississippi and through some other states, before being trained as a radio technician in Wisconsin.

Erwin before being injured.

Erwin graduated in 1944 and was payrolled into the bombarding squadron No. 52, the bombardess crew No. 29, strategic air force No. 20, stationed in Texas.

Closing the troops at North Airport, today is the Andersen Air Force on Guam Island, Erwin's squadron is responsible for bombing Japanese cities, sometimes without escorting.

"Los Angeles City" is the nickname of B-29 mechanical bombing with a 12-person crew by Captain George Simeral, in which Erwin is a radio staff.

On April 12, 1945, they went on the road to perform the 11th fighting task with the goal of Koriyama in Fukushima Prefecture, where many chemical factories.

When approaching the target, Erwin's mission is to drop the smoke bomb containing phosphorus through the slide on the floor to signal for the rear planets.

The group flies on the B-29 "Los Angeles city".

A phosphorus bomb suddenly triggered as soon as Erwin was removing a safe latch.

Erwin desperately crookes around the compartment to find phosphorus bombs because he could burn through the floor and fell to the bomb cavity below.

Erwin finally found the bomb and picked it up.

At this time, the B-29 is only 91 m from the sea surface and still reduces heights very quickly.

The bomb burned down erwin clothes and his skin was peel off.

The B-29 canceled the mission and turned his head to Iwo Jima Island controlled by the US army.

Erwin after surgery in the US.

Doctors think that there is not much hope to save Erwin.

Military base at Pearl Harbor has a medal for display.

Contrary to every prediction, Erwin survived and was taken to the US, undergiving 41 surgeries in 30 months.