Dean Pogreba served in the Army Air Forces in World War II, and the U.S. Air Force in both Korea and Vietnam. Lieutenant Colonel Pogreba was shot down on the mission for which he received the Air Force Cross and on that day Radio Peking announced the capture of an American pilot, identifying their prisoner as Dean Pogreba. He was not repatriated with the other POWs at the end of the war and there is no information as to his ultimate fate. His remains have never been recovered.
Sponsored by:
Dean
Andrew
Pogreba
MIA (RVN) KIA
March 16, 1922
–
October 5, 1965
Cemetery:
National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (Courts of the Missing)
Awards Received
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Distinguished Flying Cross
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Distinguished Flying Cross
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Air Force Cross
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Distinguished Flying Cross
Service:
United States Air ForceRank:
CaptainRegiment:
4th Fighter-Interceptor WingDivision:
5th Air ForceAction Date:
June 24, 1953
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 2, 1926, takes pleasure in presenting a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Second Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross to Captain Dean Andrew Pogreba (AFSN: 0-52644/AO-776026), United States Air Force, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight on 24 June 1953, in aerial comb at against enemies of the United Nations in Korea, as Pilot of an F-86 aircraft with the 4th Fighter Interceptor Wing, FIFTH Air Force. Captain Pogreba was escorting a flight of friendly fighter bombers that were striking a vital target in North Korea when he sighted eight enemy MiG-15’s preparing to attack the more vulnerable and much slower friendly aircraft. Captain Pogreba immediately initiated a firing attack that dispensed the bulk of the enemy aircraft. He then observed one of the MiG’s diving toward the fighter bombers. Though he had become separated from the rest of his flight, Captain Pogreba immediately went to the aid of the threatened friendly aircraft. With lethal accuracy Captain Pogreba struck his quarry with two deadly bursts of gunfire, and despite the enemy’s futile attempts to evade this withering assault, he tenaciously pressed his attack until the stricken enemy crashed in a ball of flame. By his skill, judgment and courage, Captain Pogreba insured the success of the friendly bombing mission and destroyed a MiG-15. By his extraordinary courage and devotion to duty, Captain Pogreba has brought great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.
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Distinguished Flying Cross
Service:
United States Air ForceRank:
CaptainRegiment:
4th Fighter-Interceptor WingDivision:
5th Air ForceAction Date:
May 10, 1953
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 2, 1926, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Captain Dean Andrew Pogreba (AFSN: 0-52644/AO-776026), United States Air Force, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight on 10 May 1953, in aerial combat against enemies of the United Nations in Korea, as pilot of an F-86 aircraft, 4th Fighter Interceptor Wing, FIFTH Air Force. Captain Pogreba was leading his flight of F-86’s escorting a group of fighter bombers that were striking the most heavily defended target in North Korea. Two minutes before reaching the target, approximately fifty enemy MiG-15’s attacked the friendly aircraft. Captain Pogreba promptly engaged twenty-four of these enemy aircraft, luring them away from the much slower and very vulnerable fighter bombers. Greatly outnumbered, Captain Pogreba utterly disregarded his personal safety by repeatedly engaging this overwhelming force, and exercised such superior skill, judgment, and courage, that he frequently gained the offensive over the MiG’s. Captain Pogreba continued his heroic action until the fighter bombers had completed their mission and withdrawn from the area. By his tenacious aerial ability and exceptional courage in the face of the enemy, Captain Pogreba insured the success of this vitally important and extremely dangerous mission. By his extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty, Captain Pogreba has brought great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.
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Air Force Cross
Service:
United States Air ForceRank:
Lieutenant Colonel [then Major]Batallion:
36th Tactical Fighter Squadron (TDY)Division:
Yokota Air Base, JapanAction Date:
October 5, 1965
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Title 10, Section 8742, United States Code, takes pride in presenting the Air Force Cross (Posthumously) to Lieutenant Colonel [then Major] Dean Andrew Pogreba (AFSN: 0-52644/AO-776026), United States Air Force, for extraordinary heroism in military operations against an opposing armed force as Pilot of an F-105D aircraft while serving on temporary duty with the 36th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Yokota Air Base, Japan, in action in Southeast Asia on 5 October 1965. On that date, Lieutenant Colonel Pogreba participated as a pilot and mission coordinator for a strike against a highly significant military target. Despite the extreme difficulty of overcast cloud layers, haze, and rain showers, Lieutenant Colonel Pogreba flew at low level through mountain passes to the target area while encountering devastating automatic weapons and anti-aircraft artillery fire. With complete disregard for his personal safety, Lieutenant Colonel Pogreba climbed to 9,000 feet into over-hanging clouds, which made him highly vulnerable to the hostile ground fire, and delivered his ordnance directly on the target. Lieutenant Colonel Pogreba then emerged from the clouds and though still subjected to intensive ground fire, assisted the other members of his flight in their weapons deliver, assuring complete destruction of this vital target. His courageous actions and determination are in keeping with the highest traditions of the American fighting man under attack by an opposing armed force. Through his extraordinary heroism, superb airmanship, and aggressiveness, Major Pogreba reflected the highest credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.