Buy escape from laos reprint by dengler, dieter isbn. Dengler, however, adopts a lighthearted perspective on these events, leaving the impression that his laotian travails did not fundamentally change his life. An american pilot shot down over laos in 1966 tells of his inhumane treatment and torture at the hands of the communist pathet lao and his daring escape from a prison. A copy that has been read, but remains in clean condition. May 17, 2010 dieter dengler, shipmate and friend may 17, 2010 by bruce henderson 2 comments in early 1966, on the aircraft carrier ranger in the gulf of tonkin off the steamy coast of north vietnam, i was a 19yearold aerographers mate, taking weather observations, plotting weather maps, and launching weather balloons. Immigrant pilot dieter dengler made a harrowing escape from a pow camp in laos and became a national hero. Dieter in his autobiographical book escape from laos. Dieter dengler may 22, 1938 february 7, 2001 was a germanborn united states navy naval aviator and pilot during the vietnam war and later a private aircraft test pilot and commercial airline pilot. Martin and navy pilot lieutenant dieter dengler joined the pows in the prison. Rescue dawn tells true story of vietnam pow rescue u. Jun 03, 2010 hollywood has long taken liberties when it comes to telling true stories and depicting real lives, but in werner herzogs film, rescue dawn, his overthetop depiction of a wisconsinbred american pow held captive in laos was egregious. Dieter dengler project gutenberg selfpublishing ebooks. He was one of the two survivors the other being pisidhi indradat, out of seven, to escape from a pathet lao prison camp in laos.
Flying low over the dangerous and impenetrable laotian jungle on a bombing mission against the viet cong, u. He was one of two survivors, the other being phisit intharathat, out of seven prisoners of war pows who escaped from a pathet lao prison. Dieter denglers great escape from laotian pow camp historynet. On february 1, 1966 the american pilot dieter dengler 19382001 took enemy fire and crashlanded his plane in laos while on a.
My editions one map shed no further geopgrapical light on the situation. His lifelong dream to be a pilot led him to first join the air force, and then the navy. The greatest pow escape of the vietnam war, published by. Dieter dengler may 22, 1938 february 7, 2001 was a germanborn united states navy naval aviator during the vietnam war.
Dieter dengler may 22, 1938 february 7, 2001 was a germanborn united states navy aviator during the vietnam war and later a private aircraft test pilot and commercial airline pilot. Escape from laos is dieter denglers account of the time he spent as a pow in laos, including his escape. If thats true, then the only reason for this book is that dengler was the first prisoner to escape from southeast asia. In may 1964, they managed to escape for three days, but were caught at a watering hole. Dieter denglers a1 skyraider was shot down over laos during a secret. Bruce hendersons quest to tell dieter denglers life story. If it isnt, then the more interesting story got away. Dengler wrote about his captivity and flight in the book escape from laos, which was published in 1979 by presidio press. Accepted into the flight training program, he was eventually assigned to fly douglas ad skyraiders. One such prisoner was dieter dengler, a germanborn u.
Dieter dengler, shipmate and friend bruce henderson. Lieutenant dengler, played by actor christian bale, was captured and subjected to brutal torture. He succumbed to als lou gehrigs disease in 2001 and was buried at arlington national cemetery. Now a new film tells the story of the vietnam wars most incredible escape. Rescue dawn, dieter dengler, werner herzog, laos, vietnam war. He was one of two survivors, the other being phisit intharathat, out of seven prisoners of war pows who escaped from a pathet lao prison camp in laos. Discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that delivers new. The book, escape from laos, is denglers account of the events of that day, and of the seemingly endless days and nights following his shootdown, imprisonment, and ultimately, his rescue from the remote jungles of laos. Navy pilot who was shot down over laos in february of 1966.
Rescue dawn, eugene debruin and dieter dengler bruce. Escape from laos on february 2nd of 1966, us navy lieutenant dieter dengler was flying his first combat mission over north vietnam from the carrier u. Lieutenant dieter dengler christian bale who is shot down in 1966 while flying a combat mission during the vietnam war. German born pilot dieter dengler was shot down in laos. Dieter dengler, a pow who escaped a laotian torture camp during the vietnam war and chronicled his experience in the book escape from laos, has died. Dieter dengler, who was shot down in 1966 during a topsecret mission to destroy viet cong strongholds in laos. The real dieter dengler story not mooseshits bullshit. Six months later he escaped from the hell of the prison camp, along with six other men. The story of his capture and eventual escape has featured in documentaries and dramatizations and has become a memorable chapter in this turbulent period of history. Tortured with razorsharp bamboo and fed alive to ants. Martin and navy pilot lieutenant dieter dengler joined the pows in.
Dengler documented his experience in the book escape from laos. He was one of two survivors the other being pisidhi indradat, out of seven prisoners of war pows, to escape from a pathet lao prison camp in laos. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis als seriesdisabled legend dieter dengler. To orientate ourselves, efl is the tale of a navy pilot, dieter dengler and his escape from a pathet lao pow camp in eastern laos. The story behind one pows incredible escape from vietnam by zoe brennan. A movie version of denglers life, little dieter needs to fly, was made by german filmmaker werner herzog and screened at the mill valley film festival in 1997. In february, 1966, navy lieutenant dieter dengler was shot down over laos and. Air force colonel eugene deatrick saw a lone figure waving to him from a clearing below. Dieter dengler biography facts, childhood, family life. The book, escape from laos, is denglers account of the events of that day. F ilmmaker werner herzogs second approach to the story of dieter dengler, a german born american bombardier 1938 2001 who got shot over laotian territory in the early vietnam war in 1966. Herzogs film is starkly at odds with dieter denglers own book escape from laos, and denglers statements in the documentary little dieter needs to fly 1997, when it comes to the character of gene debruin. The story behind one pows incredible escape from vietnam. Dieter never, ever described gene debruinwho sacrificed himself to help his friend y.
Dieter dengler may 22, 1938 february 7, 2001 was a united states navy naval aviator during the vietnam war. The greatest pow escape of the vietnam war, published by harper, went on sale june 29, 2010. Escape from laos mass market paperback december 1, 1982. May 20, 2017 immigrant pilot dieter dengler made a harrowing escape from a pow camp in laos and became a national hero. In 1965 his squadron was flying missions off the deck of. Pages can include limited notes and highlighting, and the copy can include previous owner inscriptions. Jul 27, 2007 in 1965, while bombing laos in a classified mission, the propeller plane of the germanamerican us navy pilot dieter dengler is hit and crashes in the jungle. Oct, 2010 dieter dengler was an immigrant from germany. In 1965, while bombing laos in a classified mission, the propeller plane of the germanamerican us navy pilot dieter dengler is hit and crashes in the jungle. Escape from laos by dieter dengler and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Escape from laos by dieter dengler, 9780891412939, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. A day later, while attempting to signal rescuers flying above heavy jungle territory controlled by the pathet lao. Dieter dengler, shipmate and friend may 17, 2010 by bruce henderson 2 comments in early 1966, on the aircraft carrier ranger in the gulf of tonkin off the steamy coast of north vietnam, i was a 19yearold aerographers mate, taking weather observations, plotting weather maps, and launching weather balloons.
In 1965 his squadron was flying missions off the deck of the uss ranger. On february 2nd of 1966, us navy lieutenant dieter dengler was flying his first. In february, 1966, navy lieutenant dieter dengler was shot down over laos and captured by the pathet lao. Eugene debruin, who escaped from a pow camp in southern laos along with u. Dengler returned to california, and wrote a book, escape from laos on his experiences while a pow.
By february 1966 us air force pilot 1st lieutenant duane w. After being shot down over laos, pow dieter dengler organizes an escape and struggles to survive in the oppressive jungle dieter dengler s great escape from laotian pow camp bruce henderson. It was marketed as the story of dieter denglers escape from a laos pow camp in 1966. Bruce hendersons book about dieter dengler, hero found. Dieter is arrested by the peasants, tortured by the vietcong and sent to a prisoner camp, where he meets five other mentally deranged prisoners and guards. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Jun 20, 2007 rescue dawn is based on the true story of navy lt. This excerpt tells of this first and last abbreviated mission in the a1 skyraider. In the 2007 film rescue dawn, which told the story from denglers point of view, martin was portrayed by actor steve zahn. The movie is based on herzogs own documentary little dieter needs to fly 1997 and dieter denglers book escape from laos.
The ranger and its warplanes, including the skyraiders of va145, had just repositioned from dixie to yankee station following a short workup off the waters of south vietnam. New york times bestselling author bruce henderson, who was serving on the same aircraft carrier as dengler at the time he was shot down, tells denglers life story in a 2010 nonfiction book, hero found. Henderson, who was serving on the same ship as dengler at the time he was shot down, tells denglers life story in a 2010 nonfiction book, hero found. Navy cross awarded to lieutenant junior grade dieter dengler, a1h skyraider pilot from va145, uss ranger, following his escape from a pathet lao prison camp. Check out this biography to know about his childhood, family life and achievements. Dengler was one of only two american servicemen to sucessfully escape from a pow camp during the vietnam war. After his capture, indradat and the other prisoners were moved from camp to camp. Prisoner escapes harrowing torture during vietnam war. Dieter dengler, a pow who escaped a laotian torture camp during the. Air america airline air america film capt duane w martin. Dieter dengler was a germanborn united states navy aviator who was the first captured u. After months of imprisonment and torture he escapes. Herzogs film is starkly at odds with dieter denglers own book escape from laos, and denglers statements in the documentary little dieter needs to fly 1997, when it. Twenty days later, alone, racked by hallucinations and disease, he was rescued.
Dieter dengler, whose story intersects with phisits, recorded his memories in a book called escape from laos. I read it in part because i just finished john mccains faith of my fathers, which covers his five years as a pow in vietnam. Below, i have interspersed edited passages from his book in an effort to flesh out some of phisits account, which i hope gives readers a better perspective on. He was tortured with razorsharp bamboo, fed alive to jungle ants and halfdrowned in a freezing well. An american pilot shot down over laos in 1966 tells of his inhuman.
On february 1, 1966 the american pilot dieter dengler 19382001 took enemy fire and crashlanded his plane in laos while on a secret mission. A day later, while attempting to signal rescuers flying above heavy jungle territory controlled by the pathet lao and north vietnamese army regulars, dengler was captured. Pisidhi indradat project gutenberg selfpublishing ebooks. Dengler returned to california, and has written a book, escape from laos. Jan 01, 1979 escape from laos is dieter dengler s account of the time he spent as a pow in laos, including his escape. The movie was a hollywood version and did a poor job of telling the real story which is far more dramatic. Dengler escapes his surprisingly undisciplined guards easily enough. Lieutenant junior grade dieter dengler, united states naval reserve navy cross the president of the united states takes pleasure in presenting the navy cross to lieutenant, junior grade dieter dengler, united states naval reserve, for extraordinary heroism during an extremely daring escape from a prisoner of war stockade in laos on 30.
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