Did anyone see this on BBC4 last night? I only noticed it at the last minute, was going to go to bed but I couldn’t stop watching. This guy has an incredible story of leaving Germany aged 18 to fly in the US, eventually getting shot down over Laos and escaping 6 months later.
There was some interesting Skyraider footage and a long aerial shot over Davis-Monthan in Arizona. It was filmed in ’97 so it will have been on a few times by now.
Coincidentally, while googling for more info on him (At the end of the film it mentions he became a test pilot and survived a further 4 crashes) I came across a movie of this man’s story, ‘Rescue Dawn’, which will be released in the UK on 18/5/07. Mixed reviews online but shot by the same director so hopefully be fairly true to the story.
One quote from the documentary:-
Werner Herzog – “What’s it like to be a war hero?”
Dieter Dengler – “Oh I’m not a hero, only dead people are heroes”
Very moving when he rejoins his shipmates.
Recommended viewing (By me anyway, if that means anything:) )
John
By: Newforest - 17th March 2007 at 07:40
If I remeber correctly, Dieter Dengler sadly died a few years ago.
That’s correct, Dieter died in 2001 of Lou Gehrig’s Disease and was buried in Arlington National Cemetery.
By: Paul Cushion - 16th March 2007 at 23:44
If I remeber correctly, Dieter Dengler sadly died a few years ago.
By: atc pal - 16th March 2007 at 20:06
Yes, taped this a few years ago. The story was “too much” for fiction (as pr. the old “word”). Will certainly look for the book. Strange, strange, strange ..
Best regards
By: pelican - 16th March 2007 at 18:48
If you have Itunes you can view a clip of the new film , it’s in the Podcasts section under Trailercast.tv.Dawn Rescue. But better still read the book called “Escape from Laos” By the man himself. , I got my copy from a 2nd hand bookshop, its a really good read. (although I’m sure the publishers will reprint it off the back of the new film.:) )
By: Garry Owen - 16th March 2007 at 17:20
It’s ages since I saw this,but it made a big impression on me,Dieter Dengler comes across a true gentleman. Wasn’t his father a German infantryman during WW2?
I’ll look for the film.
G.O.
By: Andy Mac - 16th March 2007 at 16:16
Cheers John, sounds good, shall keep a look out for it.:D
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March 16, 2007 at 2:21 pm