The prisoners bore the brunt of the guards’ hunger and anger. Soon the prisoners resorted to eating anything that moved
February 1, 1966
USS Ranger, South China Sea, off the coast of Vietnam
The flight deck of the massive aircraft carrier was a hive of activity as mechanics and pilots got ready for its next flight mission.
Lieutenant Dieter Dengler hopped into his Douglas Skyraider, a small plane used for attacks. It was his very first flight mission since he joined the US Navy as a pilot in an attack squadron. His mission, together with three other pilots, was to intercept an enemy truck convoy near the Vietnamese-Laotian border. It was a pretty straightforward mission, as far as attack missions go.
After flying for two-and-a-half hours, the four Skyraiders neared their target. Just as Dengler was zooming in on the target, he felt a massive explosion. Anti-aircraft fire had hit his right wing. Within seconds, his wing was gone.
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