Donald D. Engen

Donald D. Engen
Vice Admiral Don Engen
Born	(1924-05-28)May 28, 1924 Pomona, California
Died	July 15, 1999 (1999-07-16) (aged 75) Minden, Nevada
Place of burial	Arlington National Cemetery
Allegiance	United States
Service/branch	United States Navy
Years of service	1942–1978
Rank	Vice admiral
Commands held	VF-21 Carrier Air Group 11 USS Mount Katmai USS America Carrier Division Four Deputy US Atlantic Command
Battles/wars	World War II Korean War
Awards	Navy Cross Legion of Merit Distinguished Flying Cross
Relations	Hunter Ellis (grandson)

Donald D. Engen (May 28, 1924 – July 15, 1999) was a United States Navy Vice-admiral, former Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and former Director of the National Air and Space Museum.

He graduated from Pasadena High School in May 1941 and then attended Pasadena City College until leaving to join the US Navy.

Engen entered Naval Aviation Cadet Program on 9 June 1942, he soloed in August and in September 1942 was sent to naval preflight school. In October 1942 Engen was assigned to Naval Air Station Los Alamitos for primary training and then in February 1943 was sent to Naval Air Station Corpus Christi for further training. He then attended advanced training at Naval Air Station Kingsville, graduating as a Naval Aviator on 9 June 1943. Engen was assigned to Bombing Squadron 3 (VB-3) at Naval Air Station Daytona Beach for operational training in dive-bombing. In August 1943 Engen carrier-qualified by making 8 landings on USS Sable and he then joined Bombing Squadron 19 (VB-19) flying the SB2C Helldiver as NAS Los Alamitos. In January 1944 Carrier Air Group 19 (CAG-19) embarked on the USS Lexington for transit to Hawaii, offloading at Ford Island. From January–June 1944 VB-19 underwent further training at bases in Hawaii before deploying with the rest of CAG-19 aboard the USS Intrepid to the southwest Pacific arriving at Enewetak Atoll where they transferred to the USS Lexington. On 14 July 1944 Lexington left Enewetak to support the invasion of Guam and Engen later sank a Japanese freighter. In October 1944 VB-19 participated in the Battle of Leyte Gulf, Engen participated in the sinking of the Japanese aircraft carrier Zuikaku and was one of 32 VB-19 pilots to be awarded the Navy Cross for their role in the battle. On 5 November 1944 Engen and the rest of VB-19 participated in the sinking of the Japanese cruiser Nachi in Manila Bay. On 23 November CAG-19 was replaced by Carrier Air Group 20 and it embarked for transport to Hawaii and then on to San Diego In early 1945 Engen was assigned to the newly formed VBF-19 at Naval Air Station North Island and was undergoing further training in Hawaii when the Surrender of Japan took place. In addition to the Navy Cross, Engen was awarded the Air Medal and the Distinguished Flying Cross for his service in the Pacific.