This Military Service Page was created/owned by
SSgt Robert Bruce McClelland, Jr.
to remember
O'Neill, Eugene Walter, Jr., Col USAF(Ret).
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Contact Info
Home Town Jersey City, NJ; Cincinnati, OH; Long Island, NY
Last Address Miami, Florida
Date of Passing Aug 30, 1998
Location of Interment Arlington National Cemetery (VLM) - Arlington, Virginia
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Captain (Air Corps) Eugene W. O'Neill, Jr. (ASN: 0-432203), United States Army Air Forces, for gallantry in action while serving as a Pilot of the 62d Fighter Squadron, 56th Fighter Group, EIGHTH Air Force, while leading a Flight of P-47 fighter aircraft furnishing support for bombers withdrawing from a mission over Germany, 26 November 1943. As rendezvous was made with the bombers, a large force of rocket-carrying aircraft were observed preparing to attack the formation. In a furious aerial battle which ensued, Captain O'Neill engaged and destroyed one of the enemy planes, pressing his attack so close that pieces of the disintegrating plane damaged his own aircraft, knocking off a portion of the wing tip and damaging the tail assembly. In spite of this, Captain O'Neill, thinking only of the safety of the bombers, attacked and destroyed another enemy fighter that was vigorously attacking a straggling bomber. The gallantry, aggressive fighting spirit and exceptional skill displayed by Captain O'Neill contributed in a large measure to the successful withdrawal of the bomber formation.
General Orders: Headquarters, 8th Air Force, General Orders No. 263 (April 10, 1944)
Aircraft/Missile Information
P-36 Hawk Specifications Primary Function: Interceptor Contractor: Curtiss Crew: One Unit Cost: $23,000 Powerplant One Pratt & Whitney R-1830-13 engine rated at 1,050 hp Dimensions Length: 28 feet, 6 in Wingspan: 37 feet, 4 in Height: 8 feet, 5 in Weights Empty: ~4,000 lb Maximum Takeoff: 5,650 lb (loaded) Performance Speed: 313 mph Ceiling: 32,700 ft Range: 830 mi Armament Two .30-cal or two .50-cal machine guns
