Hobby Master Archive

VA-145 “The Swordsmen” were assigned to the USS Ranger from December 1965 to August 1966. On February 1, 1966 Lt(jg) Dieter Dengler was flying his A-1J 142031/ NK 504 on his very first combat mission over North Vietnam when his aircraft was shot down. Dengler crash-landed in Laos, was captured and imprisoned. On June 30, 1966 he made a daring escape from a prisoner-of-war stockade and was rescued and returned to the squadron on July 21, 1966. Dengler was awarded the Navy Cross for his courageous escape.