John E. Dengler was born in 1918 to Samuel W. and Alice Dengler who lived on Main Street in Elverson, Pennsylvania. His father was a well known cattle dealer, and served several terms as the Recorder of Deeds in Chester County.  John was the youngest child of 3 children, including Kenneth and Virginia.

 John attended local schools, as well as the University of Pennsylvania.  He obtained employment with Dupont as an accountant, moving to Delaware to live with his brother-in law and sister, Mr. and Mrs. William Stirling in North Hills (in Wilmington).

 John enlisted in the Army in May 1941, and was commissioned as a 2^nd Lieutenant at George Field, Illinois in August 1943.  John received his “wings” as a B-24 Liberator Heavy Bomber co-pilot.

 John was assigned to serve with the 774^th Bomber  Squadron, 463^rd Bomber Group, Heavy, of the 15^th Air Force. John’s Squadron was transferred to the European Theater of Operations in February 1944, flying across the Atlantic Ocean – leaving from Florida, flying the to the Caribbean, Brazil, North Africa and Sicily.  The 463^rd (which included the 774^th as well as three other squadrons) was based at Celone Airfield in Foggia, Italy.

 John’s Squadron entered combat on March 30th striking an enemy airfield in Imoski, Yugoslavia.  They flew numerous missions striking targets in Italy, Germany, Austria, Romania, Yugoslavia and Greece.  John was awarded the Air Medal in early June.  He was also awarded the Purple Heart.

 On a June mission to strike an airfield at Oberpaffenhoffen, Germany, the 463^rd Bomber Group contributed 25 aircraft – one was lost – it was John’s.

 First Lieutenant John E. Dengler was Missing In Action on June 13, 1944.

 The family received notification their son was Missing In Action on June 26^th. In October, the War Department notified them that John was listed as Killed In Action.

 A memorial service was held for John on Sunday October 15^th at the Elverson Methodist Church on Main Street, (In 2009, the Elverson United Methodist Church).  Pastor Theodore Pavlidas presided, with the memorial address presented by Reverend F. Russell Hummel, former pastor. The Lions Club attended the service to honor John, who was a fellow Lion.

 John is remembered on the Tablets of the Missing at the Florence American Cemetery in Florence, Italy.