Dieter Dengler American military pilot who escaped from captivity Date of Birth: 22.05.1938 Country: USA

1. Biography of Dieter Dengler
2. Early Life and Dream of Flying
3. Arriving in the United States and Joining the Military
4. Service in Vietnam and Capture
5. Escape and Survival
6. Later Life and Legacy

Biography of Dieter Dengler

Dieter Dengler was an American military pilot who escaped from captivity during the Vietnam War, making his escape one of the most incredible and astonishing in the history of the war.

Early Life and Dream of Flying

Dieter Dengler was born in 1938 in Wildberg, Germany, a small town in the Black Forest region. His father died during World War II, and his grandfather, who had refused to support the Nazis, faced persecution as a result. From a young age, Dengler had a fascination with airplanes, often watching the Allied planes fly overhead during the war. He was determined to become a pilot at all costs, but he had to set his dreams aside temporarily to support his family. He worked as a blacksmith and watchmaker to make ends meet.

Arriving in the United States and Joining the Military

At the age of 18, Dengler immigrated to the United States and settled in New York City in 1957. He soon volunteered for the United States Air Force (USAF), but becoming a pilot required education and citizenship. Dengler worked various jobs while attending school, eventually obtaining his American citizenship. Once he achieved this milestone, he was accepted into the United States Navy (USN). His childhood dream of becoming a pilot became a reality, and he underwent training to become an AD Skyraider pilot.

Service in Vietnam and Capture

In 1966, Dengler, serving as a junior lieutenant, was assigned to VA-145 squadron during the Vietnam War. The squadron initially conducted missions over South Vietnam but later shifted their focus to North Vietnam.

On February 1, 1966, Dengler's plane was shot down over Laos, near the Vietnam border. Initially considering parachuting, he changed his mind and attempted to crash-land the aircraft in the jungle. When the plane was spotted a day later, there was no one visible in the cockpit, and Dengler couldn't send any distress signals as the radio was not functioning. After a few days, he was discovered and taken prisoner by Pathet Lao soldiers.

Escape and Survival

Dengler's first escape attempt occurred while he was being transported to the prison camp, but he was quickly recaptured. In the camp, he encountered six other prisoners, including two Americans, a Chinese national, and two Thais. The conditions in the camp were horrifying, and the prisoners overheard guards discussing plans to kill them.

With not everyone supporting Dengler's tireless efforts to plan an escape, it took five long months before the group made a daring attempt. After a shootout with the guards, Dengler and Lieutenant Duane Martin, another pilot, found themselves separated from the others. They spent over three weeks hiding and wandering through the jungle until they reached a river. There, they built a raft and floated to an unknown village.

Sadly, Martin was killed by a peasant who attacked them unexpectedly with a machete. Exhausted and weak, Dengler managed to escape once again, using a parachute to create an SOS sign in the jungle. His distress signal was spotted by an American pilot on July 20, and soon a helicopter was sent to rescue him. By the time he was rescued, Dengler, who had previously weighed over 70 kg, weighed only 44 kg. He was the only survivor among the escapees, and his escape and survival earned him the Navy Cross and other military honors.

Later Life and Legacy

Dengler returned to military service but retired in 1968. He later worked as a civilian pilot for Trans World Airlines. Dengler married three times and had two sons.

Dieter Dengler passed away at the age of 62 on February 7, 2001, in Mill Valley, California. He was buried with full military honors at the renowned Arlington National Cemetery. Dengler's extraordinary story has been the subject of several films, including the 1997 German documentary "Little Dieter Needs to Fly" and the 2006 feature film "Rescue Dawn," which was based on his capture and escape.