Flying Officer Henry Joseph Erb enlisted to the Royal Australian Air Force on 8 November 1941. He trained in Australia as an air gunner, and went on to serve with 460 Squadron and 467 Squadron, based in the United Kingdom. With these units, Flying Officer Erb took part in strategic bombing operations over enemy-occupied Europe. On one mission over the Ruhr region of Germany, he was wounded in the head by anti-aircraft fire, but refused to leave his turret until the aircraft safely crossed the English Channel. For his actions he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross on 19 January 1945. Flying Officer Erb was discharged on 8 October 1945.