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Erik graduated from the U. S. Army Air Corps Flying School
in 1938, and a few years later joined Claire Lee Chennault's American Volunteer
Group, later to be known as the "Flying Tigers." He was among the first
pilots to arrive in Rangoon, Burma in August of 1941. Erik flew photo
reconnaissance missions in a P-40, which he modified by removing the guns and
installing cameras. He was a flight leader in the 3rd Pursuit Squadron.
After the AVG disbanded in July of 1942, Erik joined the China National Aviation
Corporation (CNAC), an airline owned by Pan American Airways and the Chinese
government. For CNAC he flew over 350 round trip missions carrying
supplies over the "Hump" - the treacherous Himalayan Mountains.
In 1946, Erik went to work for Chennault's Civil Air
Transport airline and flew many covert missions dropping agents and supplies
over mainland Communist China during the Korean War, and later dropped supplies
to the French at Dien Bien Phu, Indochina.
In the mid-50's Erik was hired by Swissair, and in 1966
went to work for the Flying Tiger Airline. In 1993 he self-published his
autobiography, Destiny, A Flying Tiger's Rendezvous With Fate. Erik
received several awards during his lifetime, including two Presidential Unit
Citations, the the Distinguished Flying Cross with Oak Leaf Clusters, the Air
Medal with Clusters, the World War II Victory Ribbon, and the Chinese Cloud
Banner.
Always willing to sign a hat, or a shirt, or his book,
Erik was a real gentleman, full of wonderful stories (always told with a twinkle
in his eyes), forever eager to share his thoughts, and even pose for pictures
when asked.
Erik leaves his wife, Ilse, two children, three
grandchildren, and a whole lot of friends who regarded him as their mentor and
personal hero.
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