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Dirk Pitt
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==Biography and career== Dirk Eric Pitt, renowned adventurer, is the son of Senator George Pitt of [[California]]. Dirk graduates from the [[United States Air Force Academy]] and serves as a pilot in the United States Air Force during the [[Vietnam War]]. Dirk is an accomplished pilot who is qualified to fly both fixed-wing and rotary aircraft. He goes on to attain the rank of [[Major (rank)|major]]. Over the course of his service, Pitt is awarded the [[Distinguished Flying Cross (United States)|Distinguished Flying Cross]] with two clusters, a [[Silver Star]], a [[Purple Heart]] and many other commendations.<ref>See ''Pacific Vortex!'' page 77 (reprinted in hardcover by Cahill Press in 2000).</ref> Dirk Pitt receives one such commendation for shooting down the plane of Admiral James Sandecker. The plane was carrying the Admiral and his staff to a remote base north of [[Da Nang]]. Unknown to them, the base was overrun by the North Vietnamese and their radio was malfunctioning, so they were unable to receive a warning. Pitt was flying nearby returning to his base from a bombing mission and was ordered to intercept and alert the admiral by whatever means available. When efforts to communicate with the Admiral's plane were unsuccessful, Pitt expertly shot out both engines on the transport, forcing them to ditch in the sea instead of landing at the captured base. Dirk then flew cover, strafing any boats that left the shore, until everyone was taken aboard a navy patrol vessel.<ref>Cussler, Clive (1985). ''Deep Six'', New York: Simon & Schuster. 0-671-50373-1; pages 337 and 338.</ref> Cussler derived this story as well as some of Pitt's awards from the real life [[World War II]] veteran [[Louis Edward Curdes]]. Dirk's service record is amended in the film versions of ''[[Raise the Titanic (film)|Raise the Titanic]]'' and ''[[Sahara (2005 movie)|Sahara]]'', where he is said to have graduated from the [[United States Naval Academy|U.S. Naval Academy]]. In both versions, Dirk graduates with his childhood best friend, Al Giordino. After leaving the service, Dirk works as a [[Ocean|marine]] [[engineer]] for the [[National Underwater and Marine Agency#The fictional NUMA|National Underwater and Marine Agency]] (NUMA), an [[oceanographic]] research organization headed by Admiral James Sandecker. In his career at NUMA, Dirk makes numerous shipwreck discoveries and thwarts countless plans by [[villain]]s intent on [[global catastrophe]] or [[Hegemony|world domination]]. In recent novels, Dirk becomes the head of NUMA, succeeding Admiral Sandecker when the latter is appointed [[Vice President of the United States]] after the sudden death in office of his predecessor. Despite his promotion, Pitt is uncomfortable with a desk job, and still heads numerous projects in the field, becoming entangled in villainous plots just as easily as before his promotion.
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