2nd Flight Engineer / Top Turret Gunner, Boeing B-17F Flying Fortress #41-24485 named the "Memphis Belle". A native of Tennessee, Adkins served during World War Two in the United States Army Air Corps, later renamed Air Forces. In 1942, he was assigned duties aboard the Memphis Belle, after Levy Dillion was transferred to another squadron.

Adkins would go on to fly six missions with the Belle before being replaced by Harold P. Loch. On that mission, his electric warming suit malfunctioned and he received severe frostbite to his hands and feet. The Memphis Belle would later go on to become the first B-17 of World War Two crew in the European theater to fly the required 25 missions, at that time, twenty-five being the number of missions completed before being sent home. After the war Adkins remained with the Army Air Forces and the United States Air Force when it became a separate Major Command on 18 September 1947. He later retired with the rank of Major.

Eugene's the son of Clingmon David "Cling" Adkins, Jr. and Myrtle Florence Gouge. Cling served four enlistments in the United States Army from 16 September 1902 through 15 February 1913. First and second with Company M, 8th Infantry Regiment, third with Company F, 18th Infantry Regiment and lastly with Company E, 13th Infantry Regiment and Company G, 17th Infantry Regiment from whom he received his final discharge from at Fort McPherson, Georgia.

The crew of the Memphis Belle:

Pilot: Captain Robert K. Morgan
Co-pilot: Captain James A. Verinis
Navigator: Captain Charles B. Leighton
Bombardier: Captain Vincent B. Evans
First Flight Engineer/Top Turret Gunner: Leviticus "Levy" Dillon
Second Flight Engineer/Top Turret Gunner: Eugene Adkins
Third Flight Engineer/Top Turret Gunner: Harold P. Loch
Radio Operator: Robert Hanson
Ball Turret Gunner: Cecil Scott
Right Waist Gunner: E. Scott Miller
Right Waist Gunner: Casmer A "Tony" Nastal
Left Waist Gunner: Clarence E. "Bill" Winchell
Tail Gunner: John P. Quinlan
Crew Chief: Joe Giambrone