| 词条 | Eugene A. Valencia Jr. |
| 释义 |
|name= Eugene A. Valencia Jr. |image= File:Eugene Valencia.jpg |image_size= |alt= Eugene Valencia |caption= Eugene Valencia |nickname= |birth_date= {{Birth date|1921|4|13|df=y}} |birth_place= San Francisco, California |death_date= {{death date and age|1972|9|15|1921|4|13|df=y}} |death_place= San Antonio, Texas |placeofburial= |allegiance= United States |branch= United States Navy |serviceyears= 1941–1962 |rank= Commander |servicenumber= |unit= {{USS|Essex|CV-9|6}} VF-9 |commands= |battles= World War II |awards= Navy Cross Distinguished Flying Cross (6) Air Medal (6) |relations= |laterwork= }}Eugene Anthony Valencia Jr. (13 April 1921 – 15 September 1972) was a leading United States Navy fighter ace in World War II.[1][2] Early lifeA native of San Francisco, Valencia was born on 13 April 1921 and attended junior college before enlisting in the United States Navy for flight training in 1941. Naval careerValencia received his wings in February 1942 and joined Fighting Squadron 9 a year later. During his first combat deployment to the Pacific, he flew Grumman F6F Hellcats from {{USS|Essex|CV-9|6}} in 1943–44. At the end of the first cruise in February 1944, Lieutenant (JG) Valencia was an ace with seven victories, including three in the large dogfight over Truk Atoll on 17 February. Promoted to full lieutenant, Valencia prepared for VF-9's next deployment. He trained three other pilots in his "mowing machine" tactics, which became perhaps the deadliest naval fighter division (four planes) of the war. "Fighting 9" flew from {{USS|Lexington|CV-16|6}} and {{USS|Yorktown|CV-10|6}} during 1945, and Valencia's division accounted for 43 of the squadron's 130 victories. Valencia himself joined the ranks of the "aces in a day" with six kills over Japan on 17 April,[3] and at war's end all his division's pilots were aces. James B. French had 11 victories, Harris Mitchell 10, and Clinton L. Smith 6.[4] With 23 victories, Valencia remains the United States Navy's third-ranking ace of all time. Valencia remained in the navy after World War II ended, and served in a variety of roles including ordnance test, transports, and antisubmarine warfare. As a full commander, he was executive officer of VF(AW)-3, an air defense squadron, from 1958–1960. Valencia's decorations include the Navy Cross, six Distinguished Flying Crosses, and six Air Medals. Later lifeValencia retired from the navy in 1962 and entered business in Southern California. He died at an aces reunion in San Antonio in 1972, aged 51. References1. ^{{cite news |title=Eugene A. Valencia, Navy Ace in Pacific |work=New York Times |date=1972-09-18 }} 2. ^{{cite web |url=https://www.history.navy.mil/research/library/research-guides/modern-biographical-files-ndl/modern-bios-v/valencia-eugene-a.html |title=Eugene Anthony Valencia 13 April 1921 - 1972 |work=Naval History and Heritage Command |accessdate=2018-06-24 }} 3. ^Valencia's memorable actions on 17 April 1945 are documented in Edward H. Sims' book Greatest Fighter Missions, as the final chapter of that compilation. 4. ^Tillman 1996, p. 68 Bibliography{{Refbegin}}
| portal1=Aviation | portal2=Biography | portal3=United States Navy | portal4=World War II }}{{authority control}}{{DEFAULTSORT:Valencia, Eugene A. Jr.}} 10 : American naval personnel of World War II|American World War II flying aces|Aviators from California|People from San Francisco|Recipients of the Distinguished Flying Cross (United States)|Recipients of the Navy Cross (United States)|Recipients of the Air Medal|United States Navy officers|1921 births|1972 deaths |
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