Eugene A. Valencia Jr. (13 April 1921 – 15 September 1972) was a leading United States Navy fighter ace in World War II. A native of San Francisco, Valencia attended junior college before enlisting in the Navy for flight training in 1941. He received his wings of gold in February 1942 and joined Fighting Squadron 9 a year later. During his first combat deployment to the Pacific, he flew Grumman Hellcats from USS Essex (CV-9) in 1943–44. At the end of the first cruise in February 1944, Lieutenant (JG) Valencia was an ace with seven victories, including three in the large dogfight over Truk Atoll on the 17th of that month.