This Military Service Page was created/owned by
Michael Frederick, DK2
to remember
Valencia, Jr., Eugene, CDR USN(Ret).
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Contact Info
Last Address San Francisco
Date of Passing Sep 15, 1972
Official Badges
Unofficial Badges
Additional Information
Last Known Activity:
Died. Eugene A. Valencia, 51, World War II Navy air ace; of a heart attack; in San Antonio, where he was attending a convention of American Fighter Aces. In 1945, Lieut. Valencia led a four-man team that destroyed 50 airborne Japanese planes in a three-month period without suffering any losses or damage. He was personally credited with bagging a record 7½ planes in a single day, scored a total of 23 kills, and was awarded the Navy Cross for his action in the South Pacific.
Other Comments:
The US Navy's third highest scoring fighter ace with 23 aerial victories against the Japanese.
In the critical years 1943 and 1944, the Hellcat ruled the skies of the Western Pacific. Lt. Eugene Valencia, one of the Navy's top pilots, quipped: "I love this airplane so much, that if it could cook, I'd marry it."
