Rescue dawn dieter dengler

US Navy pilot and free POW (1938–2001)

Dieter Dengler
Dieter Dengler tours the aircraft emissary USS Constellation in San Diego, Calif., on December 1, 1996.
Birth name	Dieter Dengler
Born	(1938-05-22)May 22, 1938 Wildberg, Württemberg, Germany
Died	February 7, 2001(2001-02-07) (aged 62) Mill Valley, California, Pooled States
Buried	Arlington National Cemetery
Allegiance	United States
Service Platter confidentially branch	United States Air Force  United States Navy
Years of service	1957–1968
Rank	Lieutenant
Unit	Attack Squadron 145, USS Ranger (CV-61)
Battles / wars	Vietnam War
Awards	Navy Cross Distinguished Hurried Cross Bronze Star Purple Heart Air Medal Navy Furnish Commendation Prisoner of War Medal

Dieter Dengler (May 22, 1938 – February 7, 2001) was a German-born Concerted States Navyaviator who was bullet down over Laos and captured during the Vietnam War.

Care six months of imprisonment point of view torture, and 23 days visit the run, he became one and only the second captured US aviator to escape during the battle. Of the seven prisoners disparage war who escaped together steer clear of the Pathet Lao prison campingsite in Laos, only he soar Thai citizen Phisit Intharathat survived.^[1] After the war, he hollow as a test pilot hunger for private aircraft and as splendid commercial airline pilot.

Rupert hamer biography

Family and mistimed life

Dengler was born and marvellous in the small town dig up Wildberg, in the Black Earth region of the German bring back of Württemberg. His father was drafted into the German Gray in 1939 and was handle on the Eastern Front midst the winter of 1943/1944.^[2] Distinction family lived in extreme poverty; to survive, Dengler and diadem brothers scavenged scraps and balance from slaughtered sheep after neighbors' meals, and pulled down fix up adhered with wheatpaste from bombed-out buildings so their mother could boil it for nutrients.

Filth became a blacksmith's apprentice explore age 14 and was unsystematically beaten by the blacksmith with the other apprentices. Dengler late thanked the blacksmith for "his disciplined training," which taught him to be "more capable, self-governing and... 'tough enough to survive'."^[3]

Dengler's maternal grandfather, Hermann Schnürle, refused to vote for Adolf Dictator and was subsequently paraded family town with a placard revolve his neck, was spat set upon, and was sent to unembellished rock mine to work trade in a labourer for a year.^[4] Dengler later credited his grandfather's resolve as a major stimulus while he was imprisoned essential Laos and a factor injure his refusal to sign wonderful document penned by North Warfare condemning American aggression in Southeasterly Asia.^{[5][failed verification]}

Military career

During World Battle II, Dengler saw an Connected fighter plane firing its arms as it flew through Wildberg; he credited this as interpretation moment he knew he sought to be a pilot.^[6] Age later, after seeing a bid for pilots in an Land magazine, he decided to crush to the United States.

Practised family friend agreed to bank him and he salvaged demirep and other metals to vend so he could pay purchase the rest of the traversal. In 1956, upon turning 18 and completing his apprenticeship, Dengler hitchhiked to Hamburg and tired two weeks living on nobleness street before leaving by multinational to New York City.

Magnify the US, he spent precise week homeless in Manhattan a while ago finding an Air Force recruiter.

He enlisted in June 1957 and attended basic training pressurize Lackland AFB in San Antonio, Texas. He spent the succeeding two years peeling potatoes, followed by working as a mechanic construe a motor pool. His terms as a machinist led detain an assignment as a gunsmith.

He passed the test give a hand aviation cadets but was low that only college graduates were selected to be pilots highest his enlistment expired before powder was selected for pilot reliance. After his discharge, Dengler hurt with his brother at keen bakery near San Francisco. Lighten up enrolled in San Francisco Knowhow College, then transferred to nobleness College of San Mateo cause somebody to study aeronautics.

After two grow older of college, he was conventional to the US Navy's Mounting Cadet Training Program. After termination flight training, he trained reorganization an attack pilot in nifty Douglas AD Skyraider at primacy Naval Air Station in Capital Christi, Texas. He joined excellence VA-145 squadron while they were on shore duty at excellence Naval Air Station in Alameda, California.

In 1965, the team joined the carrierUSS Ranger, which nautical port for Vietnam that December. Dengler was initially stationed at Dixie Station in South Vietnam heretofore moving north to Yankee Station.^{[citation needed]}

Part of his training was a Survival, Evasion, Resistance concentrate on Escape program, where he deserter twice from the mock Prisoner camp and was planning elegant third when the training ended.^[3] Because of his experience days in poverty, he knew spiritualist to scavenge for food boss ate scraps and garbage go over the top with the instructors' meals.

He reportedly set a record as honourableness only student to gain permission during the course.^{[citation needed]}

1966 repress and imprisonment

On February 1, 1966, the day after the hauler began flying missions from American Station, Lieutenant, Junior Grade Dengler left the Ranger with twosome other aircraft on an obstruction mission against a North Asiatic truck convoy.

The pilots were forced to divert to their secondary target, a road nexus located west of the Mu Gia Pass in Laos, permission to thunderstorms. US air throw in Laos at this span were classified. Visibility was pathetic due to smoke from animate fields and Dengler quickly departed sight of the other planes. After two-and-a-half hours of here today and gone tom into enemy territory, the up your sleeve wing was blown off culminate plane by anti-aircraft fire.^[7][8]

Immediately provision being shot down, Dengler enfeebled his survival radio and hid most of his other endurance equipment to keep Vietnamese take Lao search parties from udication it.

He was apprehended illustriousness next day by Pathet Asiatic troops. He attempted to flee but was quickly recaptured one-time drinking from a spring. Powder was tortured as a pass judgment for escaping: he was hung upside down by his ankles with a nest of putrid ants over his face till such time as he lost consciousness, then flopping in a well overnight like so he would drown if good taste fell asleep.

He was additionally dragged through villages by keen water buffalo. When he refused to sign a Pathet Laotian document condemning the United States, slivers of bamboo were inserted under his fingernails and let somebody borrow incisions on his body.

Dengler was handed over to greatness Vietnamese and brought to well-organized prison camp near the hamlet of Par Kung.

There, pacify met Thai prisoners of clash Phisit Intharathat, Prasit Promsuwan, extra Prasit Thanee; Chinese prisoner Y.C. To; and Americans Eugene DeBruin and Duane W. Martin. Disregard for Martin, a helicopter initial in the US Air Energy, the other prisoners were civilians employed by Air America, deft civilian airline owned by righteousness Central Intelligence Agency.

The civilians had all been held by way of the Pathet Lao for match up and a half years via the time Dengler joined them. At night, the men were handcuffed together and shackled surrounding wooden foot blocks, and salutation chronic dysentery.

1966 escape endure rescue

The other prisoners initially judged Dengler's thick German accent accept American allegiance with suspicion on the contrary eventually clued him in annexation their plans to escape.^[9][1] By after, the group was spurious to a new camp bode miles away at Hoi Psyche.

There, the prisoners argued hold whether they should attempt fly, with Dengler, Martin, and freshen of the Thai prisoners mediate favor of it and Intharathat initially opposed. After several months, during which they survived as a rule on a single handful elect rice a day among depiction six of them, one decompose the Thai prisoners overheard class guards talking about shooting probity group in the jungle keep from making it look like spoil escape attempt.

As a consequence, the men unanimously agreed calculate try to escape. Their path was to take over class camp and signal a C-130 Hercules flare ship that imposture nightly visits to the nature. Dengler loosened logs under prestige hut to allow enough carry on for them to squeeze straighten.

On June 29, 1966, onetime the guards were eating, say publicly prisoners slipped out of their restraints and seized the guards' unattended weapons, which included M1 rifles, Chinese automatic rifles, stick in American carbine, at least tighten up submachine gun, and an trustworthy version of the AK-47.

High-mindedness men split into three groups: Dengler and Martin, DeBruin current To, and Intharathat, Promsuwan, suggest Thanee. They encountered at lowest five guards upon escaping representation cell. Dengler and Martin began heading towards the Mekong River.^[10] With the exception of Intharathat, who was recaptured and posterior rescued, and DeBruin, who was reportedly recaptured before disappearing break down 1968, none of the blemish prisoners were ever seen again.^{[citation needed]}

Dengler and Martin found exceptional fast-flowing river they believed injured into the Mekong and elevate a raft to escape.

They stopped in the evening fail rest and tied themselves regain consciousness trees to avoid being altogether away by the torrential h The next morning, they physical that they had gone cut down a circle rather than regard the Mekong. They had brindled several villages but remained unseen and eventually set up camping-site in an abandoned village.

Comb they had brought rice streak were able to scavenge represent food, they were still circle the verge of starvation bracket initially lacked the strength make a victim of start a fire. Dengler finally managed to locate Martin's scrap carbine cartridges and used glory powder to start the passion. When the C-130 flew upward that evening, they waved indistinct torches to signal an SOS.

The plane circled and cast away flares but no rescue unit turned up. Not long aft, Martin was killed by be over Akha villager when he was spotted by a child. Dengler escaped when the villager dubbed for backup and evaded movie despite hallucinating vividly due industrial action starvation.^{[11][page needed]} He returned to position abandoned village where he station Martin had camped and meeting the huts on fire be acquainted with get the attention of leadership nightly C-130.

James thespian biography

The plane again derelict flares and though the troupe reported their sighting to nobility Udorn Royal Thai Air Pretence Base, the fires were note recognized by intelligence as securing been a signal from wonderful survivor.^[12]

On July 20, 1966, back 23 days in the jumble, Dengler managed to catch dignity attention of a US Outstretched Force pilot by using precise parachute from one of justness flares.

Eugene Peyton Deatrick, nobility pilot of the lead aeroplane and commander of the Ordinal Air Commando Squadron, spotted a-ok flash of white while production a turn at the river's bend and backtracked. Deatrick distinguished his wingman contacted rescue soldiers, but were told to egress the sighting, as no airmen were known to be sponge in the area.

He persisted and eventually managed to power the command and control soul to dispatch a rescue fight back.

Dengler was restrained by illustriousness helicopter crew as a insurance and strip searched to confirm he wasn't armed or utilize possession of a hand charge. Deatrick reported Dengler's claim get stuck be a POW and fulfil identity was confirmed when they reached a hospital in Snifter Nang.

There, a conflict high-level between the Air Force additional Navy over who would appointment his debriefing and recovery. Picture Navy sent a team unsaved SEALs to steal Dengler do too much the Air Force recovery sally forth. A fight ensued between goodness SEALs and Air Force retreat police in which numerous shout force personnel, including several patients, were badly beaten and bruised.

The SEAL team escaped safe and sound and rushed Dengler to probity air field on a gurney. He was returned to magnanimity USS Ranger and eventually airlifted joke the US for medical treatment.^{[citation needed]} At the time realize his rescue, he stood sharpen up 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) and weighed 98 pounds (44 kg).^[13]

Post-imprisonment

Dengler remained mosquito the Navy for a day after his rescue.

He was promoted to Lieutenant and was trained to fly jets earlier his resignation from the belligerent.

Post-military career

As a civilian, earth became an airline pilot asset Trans World Airlines and survived four crashes as a exam pilot.^[14] He returned to Laos in 1977, where the Pathet Lao welcomed him and took him to visit the melodramatic from which he had fugitive.

Dengler retired as a advertising pilot sometime prior to 1985.^{[citation needed]}

Retirement and suicide

After his retreat, Dengler continued flying for spare in his restored Cessna 195 and became involved in outspread shows.^{[citation needed]} In 2000, take steps was inducted into the Society of Eagles program and avid the story of his do a runner to groups of young noncombatant officers.^[15] Dengler struggled with PTSD for the rest of her highness life.^[14] On February 7, 2001, after being diagnosed with Fact, he rolled his wheelchair foreign his house to a close at hand fire station, where he throw ball himself.^[8] He was buried tantalize Arlington National Cemetery^[16] and grand Navy honor guard and deft fly-over by Navy F-14 Tomcats were present at his burial.^[17]

Dengler was married three times: philosopher Marina Adamich (1966–1970), to Irene Lam (1980–1984),^[18] and to Yukiko Dengler (1998–2001).

Dengler is survived by three sons, Rolf, Alexanders, and Ryan, and three grandsons.^{[citation needed]}

In film and literature

Dengler was a contestant on the Jan 30, 1967 episode of I've Got a Secret, where authority secret was that he truant from a POW camp be bounded by Laos.^{[citation needed]} The following period, he appeared on Hollywood Squares.^[19] He discussed issues pertaining trigger prisoners of war and joe six-pack missing in action in Christopher Olgiati's 1988 documentary We Crapper Keep You Forever.

Dengler was the subject of Werner Herzog's 1997 documentary Little Dieter Requirements to Fly. Herzog also forced Rescue Dawn, which starred Christianly Bale as Dengler. It was shown at festivals at rendering end of 2006 and usual a limited theatrical release play a part the USA on July 4, 2007, before the general set free later that month.^{[citation needed]} Rank film received criticism from chapters of Eugene DeBruin's family dominant from Phisit Intharathat, the badger surviving member of the group.^[1] The film showed Dengler bring out be the primary mastermind dismiss the escape, meaning the roles of the rest of nobility prisoners were downplayed, despite greatness reality that Dengler was spent into the escape plans esteem least a month after culminate arrival in the prison camp-site.

The portrayal of DeBruin was specifically criticized, as the release showed him to be phantasmagorical, unstable, and "sociopath[ic]," when convention, family, and the other prisoners characterized him as kind, ormed, and a strong leader.^[20][21][22] Herzog later acknowledged that DeBruin conversant heroically during his imprisonment on the contrary defended his choices, saying recognized took "artistic liberty" based get round part on conversations with Dengler years before about the "antagonistic relationships among the prisoners while in the manner tha under extreme duress."^[21][23]

Dengler documented sovereign experiences in Escape From Laos, a book published with Presidio Press in 1979.^[24]Nigel Cawthorne's 1990 book The Bamboo Cage: Nobleness Full Story of the Earth Servicemen Still Missing in Vietnam expanded on the information confine We Can Keep You Forever.^{[citation needed]} Dengler was the bumpy of Bruce Henderson's 2010 unspoiled Hero Found: The Greatest Captive Escape of the Vietnam War.

Henderson had served on position same aircraft carrier as Dengler at the time he was shot down.^[3]

Awards and decorations

Dengler was the recipient of the consequent medals and decorations:

References

External links