Eugene Peyton Deatrick

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Eugene Peyton Deatrick, Jr.
November 17, 1924
Gene Deatrick by A-1E Skyraider (USAF Photo)
Nickname	Gene
Place of birth	Morgantown, West Virginia
Allegiance	United States of America
Years of service	1943-74
Rank	Colonel, USAF
Commands	- 1st Air Commando Sq, 1966-67 - USAF Test Pilot School, 1967-68 - Director of Test, AFSC, 1972-74
Battles/wars	Vietnam War
Awards	- Legion of Merit (1OLC) - Distinguished Flying Cross (1OLC) - Air Medal (22OLC) - Bronze Star for Valor
Other work	Aerospace Representative

Eugene Peyton Deatrick, Jr. (born November 17, 1924 in Morgantown, West Virginia) is a retired United States Air Force Colonel and test pilot.

Contents 1 Biography 2 Honors 3 References 4 Notes 5 External links

[edit] Biography

Deatrick entered the U.S. Army Air Corps in 1946 following graduation from the United States Military Academy. He flew B-25s at Enid, OK then transitioned to the 307th Bomb Wing at MacDill AFB in Florida where he flew B-29s. From 1947 to 1948, he served a tour with the 10th Rescue Squadron in Adak, Alaska where he flew B-17s, L-5s, and PBYs. The famous Norwegian Arctic explorer, Colonel Bernt Balchen, was his Commanding Officer. In 1949, he was assigned to the 3759th Electronics Test Squadron whose mission was the development of new radar bombing equipment. In 1950 the squadron moved to Eglin AFB, FL as the nucleus of the new Armament Test Center. Deatrick was assigned as the Bomber Engineering Test Pilot. In addition to bombers, he flew the T-33 and P-51.

In 1951, Deatrick was a member of the first class to attend the newly formed Experimental Test Pilot School^[1] at Edwards Air Force Base, CA, and subsequently served five years in the Bomber Flight Test Division at Wright Patterson AFB, OH. During this tour of duty, he flew development tests on the B-47 and B-52 aircraft among many other programs. He also participated in the Eniwetok nuclear weapons effect tests in these aircraft in 1954 and 1956. From 1956 to 1964, Deatrick was assigned as Executive Officer to Major General Howell Estes, Jr. He followed Estes on many assignments throughout the world. In 1965, he volunteered for Vietnam.

In March 1966, Deatrick assumed command of the 1st Air Commando Squadron (ACS) located at Pleiku, RVN. On his fourth flight (an orientation mission), Deatrick was diverted into the A Shau Valley to help defend a Special Forces camp that was under attack. The next day, Bernie Fisher of the 1st ACS landed on the enemy-held runway and successfully rescued "Jump" Myers who had been shot down earlier that day. Fisher was later awarded the Medal of Honor for this rescue. While in Vietnam, Deatrick flew 402 combat missions in the A-1E Skyraider. He was responsible for the rescue of Lt. Dieter Dengler, USN, who had escaped from a prison camp after six months of captivity^[2]. Deatrick returned to the United States in early 1967 and was assigned as Commandant of the USAF Aerospace Research Pilot School, Edwards Air Force Base, CA. In 1968, he was selected to attend the National War College. Following his graduation in 1969, he was assigned to the Joint Staff, Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Subsequently, in 1972, he became the Director of Test, Air Force Systems Command, Andrews AFB, MD and retired from the United States Air Force in 1974.

In 1996, Deatrick portrayed himself in Little Dieter Needs to Fly, the Werner Herzog documentary about the escape and rescue of Dieter Dengler. He currently serves as an aerospace representative in the Washington D.C. area for several companies. He has two sons and two grandsons. Deatrick and his wife, Zane, live in Alexandria, Virginia.

[edit] Honors

During his career, Deatrick flew more than 50 different types of aircraft and accumulated more than 12,000 hours of flying. He was awarded the Legion of Merit with one oak leaf cluster, the Distinguished Flying Cross with one oak leaf cluster, the Air Medal with 22 oak leaf clusters and the Bronze Star for Valor. In 1969, he earned a Masters Degree from George Washington University.

Deatrick was made an Honorary Member of the Fighter Aces Association in 1968. He served as President of the National Aviation Club for three years and is a member of the Society of Experimental Test Pilots, International Order of Characters, Daedalians, the Air Force Association, and the Quiet Birdmen. In January 1999, he received the National Aeronautic Association's Cliff Henderson Award for Aviation Achievement^[3]. In 2000, Deatrick was awarded membership in the Gathering of Eagles^[4] along with other aviation greats such as Ollie Crawford, Duke Cunningham, Fitz Fulton, Michael Novosel, Günther Rall, Ed Rector, and Chuck Yeager^[5]. In 2001, Deatrick was selected as the Distinguished Alumnus of the USAF Test Pilot School and spoke at the graduation dinner banquet. In 2005, he received the National Aeronautic Association's Elder Statesman of Aviation award^[6][7] for his service to the United States military, especially as one of its top test pilots.

[edit] References

• Dieter Dengler (1979). Escape from Laos. Presidio Press. ISBN 0-89141-076-7. 
• Charles M. Simpson (1983). Inside the Green Berets. Presidio Press. ISBN 0-89141-163-1. 
• S. L. A. Marshall (1968). West to Cambodia. Cowles Education Corp. Library of Congress 68-31132. 

[edit] Notes

[edit] External links

• Gathering of Eagles Home Page
• Actor in Little Dieter Needs to Fly from Internet Movie Database
• Larry Burrows Photo of 100th Combat Mission from Digital Journalist
• Express-20 A-1 Skyraider Class Photo from Skyraider Association
• Escape from Laos Excerpts from Skyraider Association