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| Gene A. Dennis
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| NO. 17865 • 27 Dec 1925 – 28 Sep 1952 |
| Killed in Action in North Korea. Remains not found.
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Gene Alton Dennis, "Gene
A," was born in Tipton, IN. He was the only child of Byron and Margaret
Dennis. In his early youth, the Dennis family moved frequently because his
father, an agent and telegrapher for the Nickel Plate Railroad, was transferred
from one location to another. Consequently, Gene’s school years were spent
moving between Indiana and Ohio until his family finally settled during his
senior year in high school in St. Mary's, OH, where he graduated from Memorial
High School. Despite his short time at that school, he readily entered into student
activities. He was a member of the student Activities Committee and the
basketball team, his favorite sport.
The many moves the Dennis family made helped make it a close
and loving family. He developed a fondness for railroads and learned railroad
operations and Morse code from his father, a skill that proved invaluable to
Gene A as he went through pilot training. During their frequent moves, his
mother tutored him, helping him make the necessary adjustments to new schools.
Early on, Gene A began to focus on aviation while reading
the exploits of COL Roscoe Turner, a famous early stunt pilot, observing the
Cleveland air races, reading about early aviation developments, and learning
about the exploits of the Army Air Forces during WWII. At the age of 17, Gene A
enlisted and, after passing the physical and mental tests, was accepted into
the Army Air Force aviation cadet program. That was the first step on his path
to earning his military pilot wings.
He was assigned to Kessler Army Air Field (AAF), MS, where
he completed basic military training and then went through a series of tests to
determine his aptitude for flight training. Out of a group of 160 candidates,
Gene A was one of six selected for pilot training and attended on-the-line
training at Spence AAF, GA. While there, he received and accepted an
appointment to the Academy from Fourth Ohio Congressional District Representative
Robert Jones. Private Dennis resigned from the aviation cadet program and went
to the USMA preparation program at Amherst College, MA, before taking the entrance
examinations. After completing the examinations, he was sent to Westover AAF,
MA, along with other Air Corps members of the USMAP program.
Happiness and excitement stirred Gene A when he learned he
had been accepted to the Academy. On 2 Jul 1945, PVT Dennis became New CDT
Dennis and began the "Beast Barracks" ordeal. He took it in stride
and looked forward to the academic year and the Army football program.
Unfortunately, his happiness ended when he was deficient in Spanish and turned
back. Determined to return to West Point and succeed, he attended the Sullivan
Preparatory School to prepare for the reentrance examinations. Happiness
returned to Gene A, as well as his devoted parents, when he passed the
examinations and was readmitted as a member of the Class of '50.
While at the Academy, Gene A’s positive attitude,
willingness to help others to adapt to changing situations, and easygoing
disposition were traits that demonstrated a strength of character that was
recognized by classmates and won him many friends.
After graduation, Gene A reported to Randolph Air Force
Base, TX, for primary flight training. On arrival, he was reassigned to
Goodfellow AFB because the Korean War requirements for Reservists placed an
extra demand on facilities already filled. At Goodfellow, he joined classmates
who had begun their flight training but his experience from the Aviation Cadet
Program allowed him to catch up with them. He was in one of the first groups
to solo and his flight commander identified him as a natural pilot, predicting
his destiny to fly fighters. The prediction was valid. Gene A was selected for
advanced jet flight training at Williams AFB, AZ, and was one of the first to
solo in the T-33 jet trainer. And, it was old times again as he joined
his former roommates, Robert A. Williams and William G. Fuller, as they began
their training. His parents attended the graduation ceremonies and his mother
proudly pinned silver pilot wings on Gene A’s uniform.
He attended the Fighter Combat Crew Training Course at Luke
AFB, AZ, and, as had been predicted, his flying and gunnery skills marked him
as an outstanding fighter pilot. He usually outmaneuvered fellow trainees and
his instructors in simulated air-to-air fighting. His reputation
as a superior fighter pilot was further established as Gene A attended theater
indoctrination at Johnson Air Base in Japan. One example of his skill involved
an accident during an F-80 training flight. On that flight, he
experienced complete electrical failure and subsequent engine flameout. He was
faced with two options: eject or make a power-off landing. He chose the
latter, entering the flameout pattern to set up for a landing and continued to
restart the engine. As he turned on to the final glide path, he delayed
lowering the landing gear until he was certain the aircraft could glide to a safe
landing. He attempted to lower the landing gear just prior to touchdown but not
in time. The aircraft slid to a belly landing and Gene A was unhurt and the
aircraft deemed repairable. As he stepped out of the cockpit, he was uncertain
why the flameout occurred, but knew he had enough airspeed and altitude to
reach an entry point and set up a flame out pattern for a "dead stick'
landing while continuing to restart the engine and make it to the runway. Make
it he did, demonstrating remarkable professional skill.
That was Gene A’s last flight in the F-80. That same
day, he received orders to report to the 474th Fighter Bomber Group in Korea,
an F-84 unit. After theater indoctrination flights, he began flying
bombing and close air support sorties over North and South Korea. After
completing 20 combat missions, he was selected to be a flight leader on his
21st flight and scheduled to lead four F-84s on a combat mission near
Pyong Yang, North Korea. On that mission, he was shot down. No one in the
flight observed a parachute. He was reported missing in action on 28 Sep 1952
and declared dead on 31 Dec 1953.
Gene A was a courageous and unflappable fighter pilot who is
missed by his family, friends, and associates. He was a person not to be
forgotten and a joy to know. The Air Medal and Purple Heart were added to his
WWII and Korean War service awards such as the WWII Victory Medal, the
American Campaign Medal, the Korean Presidential Award, the United Nations Service
Medal, and Korean Service Medal with one service star.
- Classmate and wingman Bill Curry
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USMA 1950