Eugene Peyton Deatrick

Eugene Peyton Deatrick Jr.
Eugene Peyton Deatrick Jr.
	Gene Deatrick by A-1E Skyraider in 1966
Nickname	Gene
Born	November 17, 1924; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Died	December 30, 2020 (aged 96); Alexandria, Virginia
Place of burial	Arlington National Cemetery
Allegiance	United States of America
Branch	United States Air Force
Service years	1943–1974
Rank	Colonel
Commands	1st Air Commando Sqdn, 1966–67; USAF Test Pilot School, 1967–68; Director of Test, AFSC, 1972–74;
Conflicts	Vietnam War
Awards	Legion of Merit (1 OLC); DFC (1 OLC); Bronze Star w/ Valor (1 OLC); Air Medal (22 OLC);
Other work	Aerospace Representative

Eugene Peyton Deatrick Jr. (November 17, 1924 – December 30, 2020) was a United States Air Force colonel, test pilot, and combat veteran. He is best recognized for his role in the rescue of United States Navy Lieutenant Dieter Dengler during the Vietnam War. The rescue was recounted in the Werner Herzog films Little Dieter Needs to Fly and Rescue Dawn and the national bestseller Hero Found: The Greatest POW Escape of the Vietnam War by author Bruce Henderson.