World War II Honoree

Eugene Adkins

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Johnson City, Tennessee

Honored By

Pearl Thomas

Relationship

A Grateful American

He enlisted in the US Army Air Force on December 20, 1940. He was trained as a flight engineer and aerial gunner on B-17 Flying Fortress bombers and then deployed to England with the 324th Bomb Squadron of the 91st Bomb Group in September 1942 and flew several missions aboard the famous B-17 Memphis Belle before getting frostbite and being reassigned to another crew. After completing his tour and returning to the United States, he received a different commission to 2nd Lt on August 2, 1943 and served the remainder of the war as a Gunnery Officer in the United States. He left active duty on November 14, 1945.