Little Dieter Needs To Fly

[MAKO69 186]

The true story of "Rescue Dawn".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-gI_8voezDA

 

Dieter Dengler Born May 22, 1938 . Dengler grew up in the small town of Wildberg in the Black Forest region of Germany. A United States Navy pilot during the Vietnam War. Dengler did not know his father, who was killed while serving in the German army during World War II. After seeing an add in an American magazine expressing a need for pilots, he decided to go to the United States. After a brief enlistment in the US Airforce he attended San Francisco City College and College of San Mateo were he earned his diploma and recieved a NAVCAD position in the USN and entered flight training. Upon his completion of training he was Commisioned an Ensign. In December 1965 he joined VA-145 flying the A-1H Skyraider abored USS Ranger, the carrier set sail for the coast of Vietnam, stationed initially at Dixie Station off South Vietnam, then moving North to Yankee Station for operations against North Vietnam. On February 1, 1966 Dieter was shot down over Laos flying a Top Secret interdiction mission were he was interned in a P.O.W. camp run by the Pathet Lao, were he was tortured and nearly starved to death. On June 29, 1966 Dieter escaped. Dieter was rescued on July 20, 1966. Dieter Died Febuary 7, 2001 of A.L.S. Lou Gehrig disease. He was burried at Arlington National Cemetry.