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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)
Aircraft/Missile Information
General characteristics
* Crew: 1 * Length: 32 ft 3 in (9.83 m) * Wingspan: 37 ft 0 in (11.28 m) * Height: 13 ft 8 in (4.17 m) * Wing area: 235 ft� (21.83 m�) * Empty weight: 7,635 lb (3,465 kg) * Loaded weight: 9,200 lb (4,175 kg) * Max takeoff weight: 12,100 lb (5,490 kg) * Powerplant: 1� Packard Merlin V-1650-7 liquid-cooled supercharged V-12, 1,695 hp (1,265 kW) * Zero-lift drag coefficient: 0.0163 * Drag area: 3.80 ft� (0.35 m�) * Aspect ratio: 5.83
Performance
* Maximum speed: 437 mph (703 km/h) at 25,000 ft (7,620 m) * Cruise speed: 362 mph (580 km/h) * Stall speed: 100 mph (160 km/h) * Range: 1,650 mi (2,755 km) with external tanks * Service ceiling 41,900 ft (12,770 m) * Rate of climb: 3,200 ft/min (16.3 m/s) * Wing loading: 39 lb/ft� (192 kg/m�) * Power/mass: 0.18 hp/lb (300 W/kg) * Lift-to-drag ratio: 14.6 * Recommended Mach limit 0.8
Armament
* 6 � 0.50 in (12.7 mm) machine guns; 400 rounds per gun for the two inboard guns; 270 per outboard gun * 2 hardpoints for up to 2,000 lb (907 kg) * 10 � 5 in (127 mm) rockets
Specifications
* A-36A Apache - Dive bomber (US Army) * F-6 - US Army offshoots model * F-6A - US Army offshoots model * F-6C - Reconnaissance variant * P-51A - More powerful powerplant; 4 x machine guns. * P-51B - 4 x machine guns; Original and bubble canopy. * P-51C - 4 x machine guns; Original and bubble canopy. * P-51D - Classic variant; most produced. * P-51H - Lighter airframe version * P-51K - Featuring an Aeroproducts propeller. * F-51 - Redesignated to "Fighter" in the new jet fighter age. * F-6K - Reconnaissance version of P-51K
