This Military Service Page was created/owned by
SSgt Robert Bruce McClelland, Jr.
to remember
Sonnenberg, Eugene Peter, Col USAF(Ret).
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He served in the US Navy or Naval Reserve from Nov 21, 1941 until joining the USAAF as an enlisted man Feb 11, 1947. He was commissioned a captain in the USAF Aug 21, 1950 and served in the USAF until retiring Sep 1, 1970.
The location of his remains is unknown.
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Ensign Eugene Peter Sonnenberg, United States Naval Reserve, for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Dive Bomber of Bombing Fighting Squadron TWO (VBF-2), attached to the U.S.S. HORNET (CV-12), on 20 June 1944, while deployed over the Philippine Sea. In the face of heavy enemy anti-aircraft fire opposition Ensign Sonnenberg pressed home a determined dive bombing attack scoring a hit on a large enemy carrier, thereby assisting materially in its destruction. While retiring from the attack he was engaged by two enemy fighters for fifteen minutes and by superior airmanship eluded them. His courage and skill were at all times inspiring and in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
General Orders: Commander Fast Carrier Task Force: Serial 0438 (August 20, 1944)
Aircraft/Missile Information
Specifications StatsCentral Model North American F-86D Sabre Length 37.50 ft | 11.43 m Width 37.07 ft | 11.30 m Height 14.99 ft | 4.57 m Engine(s) 1 x General Electric J47-GE-27, turbujet engine generating 5,970lbs of thrust. Empty Weight 10,950 lbs | 4,967 kg MTOW 17,000 lbs | 7,711 kg Max Speed 690 mph | 1,110 km/h | 599 kts Max Range 785 miles | 1,263 km Ceiling 50,000 ft | 15,240 m | 9.5 miles Climb Rate 12,000 ft/min (1,344 m/min) Hardpoints 2 Armament 6 x 12.7mm machine guns 24 x 2.75in rockets
External provisions for 2,000 lbs of bombs Accommodations 1
Major Variants
* XP-86 - Original Army Air Force prototypes (3) * YP-86A - Re-engined with GE J47 turbojet. * P-86A - Redesignated from YP-86A * F-86A - Redesignated production model from P-86A; Featured J47-GE-1 turbojet. * F-86D - Complete redesign of base model; Redesignated as night/all-weather aircraft; Hughes fire control system; J47-GE-33 turbojet. * F-86E - Slab tailplane adjustable inflight; J47-GE-27 turbojet * F-86F - J47-GE-27 turbojet; Extended leading edges. * F-86K - Based on F-86D model with J47-GE-17B tubojet. * F-86L - Rebuilt "D" model with updated electronics and larger wing surface
