Earle B. Perce

AMM First Class, USN

Co-pilot/Radioman

East Base

Biography:

Earle Baker Perce was born in Springfield, Illinois, on April 10, 1909. Perce was one of four sons born to William and Edith Perce.

The runner-up in the 1929 Olympic trials in the decathlon, Perce won several track and field medals while he was in the Navy.

Perce graduated from flight school as an NAP in the mid-1930’s. Upon acceptance in the U.S. Antarctic Service Expedition, Perce was assigned to East Base as co-pilot and radioman.

On January 4, 1940, two months after her father departed the United States on the USS Bear, Perce’s younger daughter, Earlene, was born in San Diego. USAS Commanding Officer Admiral Richard Byrd declared her the “the first USAS baby”.

Perce was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for his role on numerous flights of discovery in Antarctica, operational flights, and for the evacuation of East Base personnel on March 22, 1941.

Perce retired from the Navy in 1960 and died in 1968 in Blackshear, Georgia. Perce was buried in Waycross, Georgia.

Medals: Antarctic Service Medal, Gold

Distinguished Flying Cross

Geographical Feature: Perce Point (USGS)

Contributions: Co-pilot, East Base, and Radioman; flights of exploration, operational flights, East Base evacuation.

Photos

Films/Videos:

Full Photo/Films/Video Library:

Links: Ashley Snow, Biography

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