Erwin Bernard Lawrence Jr (1919 - 1944)

Born 31 May 1919 in Charleston, South Carolina, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Blanche Viola (Jackson) Lawrence — married 28 Aug 1942 in Alabama City, Etowah, Alabama, United States

Died 20 Apr 1944 at age 24 in Dhekélia, Attica, Greece

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Biography

Erwin Lawrence Jr is Notable.

Capt Erwin Lawrence Jr was Killed in Action during World War II.

Erwin Lawrence Jr is a Military Veteran.
Served in the United States Army Air Force 99th Fighter Squadron 1943-1944
Tuskegee Airman flying Ace

Erwin Lawrence Jr was awarded the Purple Heart.

Erwin Lawrence Jr. served as a US military pilot during World War II. He was one of the “Documented Original Tuskegee Airmen.” The Tuskegee Airmen were known for heroic combat service in support of Allied Forces in the European Theater. They served with the 332d Expeditionary Operations Group and the 477th Bombardment Group, both largely Black units of the United States Army Air Forces.

Erwin was born in 1919. He was the son of Erwin Lawrence and Kate Hairston.^[1] In August of 1940, he was enrolled in the Civilian Pilot Training Course in Tuskegee, Alabama. ^[2] . He was one of the first Tuskegee graduates, completing his courses on July 3, 1942. He was assigned to the 99th Fighter Squadron, 332nd Fighter Group and deployed to Ramitelli airfield in Italy. In June of 1943, he was part of an aviation unit that saw action in the Battle of Pantelleria, an island in the Mediterranean. ^[3] By October of 1943, he was assigned as assistant operations officer for the 99th Squadron in Sicily. ^[4], a position that he held for just over a year. On April 13, 1944, Capt. Lawrence assumed command of the 99th Fighter Squadron when Major Roberts returned to the United States for several months. Upon Roberts' return, Erwin became the squadrons Operations Officer.

On 4 Oct 1944, he departed from the Ramitelli Air Base on a staffing mission with the destination of Athens/Tatoi Airdrome in Greece. An eye witness saw his plane approach the field for staffing position when it suddenly flipped into a spin. It rotated a few times before crashing into the ground and exploding into flames.^[5] He never survived the crash. He is buried in Florence American Military Cemetery.^[6][7]

His awards include an Air Medal as well as 3 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters. ^[8]

Obituary

CAPT ERWIN B. LAWRENCE: Memorial services for Capt. Erwin B. Lawrence, Jr., veteran flier with the 99th Pursuit Squadron, first Negro combat aviation group, will be held at 3:30 p.m. at St. Mark's Presbyterian Church, Thackeray Avenue S.E. and E.55th Street. Rev. James H. Robinson, pastor of Church of the Master, New York, will give the memorial address. Reported missing while on a mission over Greece a year ago. Capt Lawrence, the third Cleveland Negro to earn his silver wings, was officially listed as dead by the War Department last January. Surviving him are his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Erwin Lawrence and a sister, Silvia, a teacher in the Cleveland public schools. ^[9]

Dead Negro Pilot's Heroism Praised The courage and heroism of Capt. Erwin B. Lawrence, Jr., Negro fighter pilot who met death over Greece on oct 4, 1944, were hailed yesterday at memorial services for the flier at St. Mark's Presbyterian Church...Rev. James H Robinson, former Clevelander and now pastor of the Presbyterian Church of the Master, New York, eulogized the officer, paying tribute to his qualities as a pilot and an American. Present were the captain's wife, Blanche, of Chicago, his parents, Mr. And Mrs. Erwin B. Lawrence and a sister, Miss Sylvia Lawrence, a Cleveland school teacher. ^[10]

Sources

1. ↑ "South Carolina, Charleston County, Charleston, Birth Registers, 1901-1926", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:4VFZ-PV6Z : 22 January 2020), Erwin Bernard Lawrence, 1919.
2. ↑ The Pittsburgh Courier, 31 Aug 1940, pg 3.
3. ↑ Pittsburgh Courier, 19 Jun 1943, pg 4.
4. ↑ Pittsburgh Courier.9 Oct 1943
5. ↑ MACR (Missing Air Crew Report) # 8981
6. ↑ https://www.abmc.gov/decedent-search/lawrence%3Derwin
7. ↑ https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/10516169/erwin-bernard-lawrence
8. ↑ GP - 322nd HQ; Oct 1944, pg. 4341
9. ↑ Plain Dealer, 10 Oct 1945, pg 9.
10. ↑ Plain Dealer 15 Oct 1945.