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Contact Info
Home Town Birmingham, Alabama
Last Address Birmingham, Alabama
Date of Passing Aug 28, 1993
Location of Interment Elmwood Cemetery - Birmingham, Alabama
He was born in Saint Winifreds Freehold, Saint Mary's County, MD but lived most of his life in Birmingham, AL.
He was a 3 rank and 2 aircraft ace. He shot down 1 enemy aircraft July 3, 1943 as a 2nd Lt., and 2 more Jan 23, 1944 as a 1st Lt., all flying a P-40. He became an ace by shooting down 3 more on Nov 1, 1944 as a Capt.; but his P-38 was shot down by antiaircraft fire from a Japanese destroyer. He was rescued and returned to his unit on November 14.
His DSC citation: Awarded for actions during World War II
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Captain (Air Corps) Elliott Estill Dent, Jr. (ASN: 0-794924), United States Army Air Forces, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as Pilot of a P-38 Fighter Airplane in the 7th Fighter Squadron, 49th Fighter Group, FIFTH Air Force, in aerial combat against enemy forces on 1 November 1944, over Leyte, Philippine Islands. While on patrol, Captain Dent led his flight of four P-38 aircraft in an attack upon fifteen to twenty enemy fighters protecting a large Japanese convoy. As he was closing in on one of the enemy fighters, four others came out of the clouds and, though he had become separated from the rest of his flight and was alone, he immediately made a head-on pass at them. For fifteen to twenty minutes he battled them fiercely, firing short bursts at each fighter in turn. By skillful maneuvering he escaped their determined attacks and sent two of them crashing into the sea and a third into a mangrove swamp. He was pursuing the fourth enemy fighter when anti-aircraft fire from a Japanese destroyer shot out the right engine of his airplane and, with smoke billowing into the cockpit, he was forced to parachute into the water. Though he was in sight of Japanese ships, he managed to escape detection and was rescued that night. Captain Dent displayed outstanding gallantry, skill, and devotion to duty in pressing a lone attack against an enemy force so numerically superior. His unquestionable valor in aerial combat is in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflects great credit upon himself, the 5th Air Force, and the United States Army Air Forces.
General Orders: Headquarters, U.S. Forces-Pacific, General Orders No. 49 (July 14, 1945)
