Draft:Deutschendorf, Henry John Sr.

Henry John “Dutch” Deutschendorf Sr. (April 15, 1920, New Cordell, OK – March 15, 1982, Aurora, CO) was a Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Air Force. He became one of America’s foremost test pilots of the 1950s and 60s and set several milestone speed records in military aircraft. His career spanned WWII, the Korean and Vietnam Wars.

Early life and education
Deutschendorf was born to Johann Heinrich Deutschendorf and Anna Elizabeth Koop. They were descended from Germans from Russia with roots in West Prussia, Kingdom of Prussia, a generation earlier.(1) He was raised on a farm in Washita County, OK. Raised in a strict household of Mennonite Brethren, it was out of character with the Mennonite ideal of pacifism of his family when he enlisted in the US Army Air Force in 1940.

Air Force career
On January 12, 1961, then Major Deutschendorf commanded a Convair Hustler B-58A-10-CF, serial number 59-2442 and crew who were tasked by the Air Force to break six international flight records, five of which were held by aircraft the Soviet Union had produced. The B-58 was designed for high altitude flying at supersonic speeds to outpace Soviet interceptors and fly deep penetration nuclear bombing missions into the USSR.(3)(9) The plane was nicknamed "Untouchable." He and his crew flew the Untouchable from Carswell Air Force Base, Texas, to Edwards Air Force Base, California. From Edwards, he flew two laps of a 1,000 kilometer circuit to Yuma, AZ and back, surpassing all previous records. Six new Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI) speed records were won, the Untouchable averaging 1,708.82 kilometers per hour (1,061.81 miles per hour), or Mach 1.38 with speed intervals exceeding Mach 2. (4) The bomber set three speed records over the single circuit 1000 kilometer (km) course with a 2000 kilogram (kg), 1000 kg, and 0 kg payloads -averaging 1931.522 km/h (1,200.194 mph) in each category. The 43rd Bombardment Wing consistently achieved such speeds throughout its use with the B-58. (5)

The Distinguished Flying Cross was awarded to Deutschendorf and his crew, Captain Raymond R. Wagener, Defensive Systems Officer, and Captain William L. Polhemus, Radar Navigator/Bombardier. (6) Untouchable, was sent in 1969 to “The Boneyard”, the Air Force’s long term, high altitude, arid storage facility at Davis-Monthan AFB, Tucson, Arizona and was scrapped in 1977.

Deutschendorf was ultimately promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and retired from the USAF in 1972 to live in the Denver, CO area. (6)

Personal life
At 21 years old, he married Erma Louise Swope on February 12, 1942, in Claremore, Oklahoma. Following their initial home at Dutch’s first posting of Roswell, NM, they later were stationed at Davis-Monthan AFB in Smithville, Pima, AZ in 1950 where he flew in the 43rd Bombardment Wing. Later the 43rd moved to Carswell AFB in Fort Worth, TX where the family lived for a few years.(1)(2) Deutschendorf and his wife were the parents of folk singer John Denver.(1) (2) (3) (7)

Deutschendorf died from a heart attack on March 15, 1982, in Aurora Presbyterian Hospital, Aurora, CO, at the age of 61, and was buried in Fort Logan National Cemetery, Denver, CO. (1)