Delmar Leland Lanning

Delmar Leland Lanning, aged 91, of Westminster, Colorado passed away on Sunday the 15th of June 2025, at his home peacefully surrounded by family. Del was born on February 19th, 1934 in Bradgate, Iowa to Dewey Lanning and Gwendolyn (Jolliffe) Lanning. As Del and his siblings grew up, he and his brother Elden “Flick” were well known in Bradgate for their antics. Soon after graduating from Bradgate High School in 1951, he enlisted into the United States Air Force on February 14th 1952. He attended basic training at Lackland AFB, Texas. He was then assigned to Mather AFB California, where he serviced aircraft radios. While at Mather AFB he applied for cadet training and qualified for aviation cadet school. Upon completing cadet school, he was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant on August 11th 1954, later he received his Navigator wings on October 13th 1954. During his early career, he participated in various flight operations and missions with the 52nd Troop Carrier Squadron. His most memorable mission was participating in Operation Deep Freeze II to Antarctica. He was aboard the first Heavy Lift Cargo Aircraft to land on the ice which was risking breaking through the runway due to the possibility that the ice could not support the aircraft. There, he took part in many operations to map and chart the then unknown barren landscape. Being one of the men assisting in the planting of the “South Pole”, his name and signature are still frozen in time on it to this day. The ultimate, and often most talked about of his accolades was being memorialized eternally by a mountain that bears his last name. He grew to have a fondness for penguins upon his return.

Following Operation Deep Freeze, he attended flight school in 1962, he graduated from Reese AFB in Lubbock, TX in 1964. Becoming a pilot flying the C-124C in July of 1962 and C-141A in July of 1965. He flew to the Belgian Congo, Europe, Vietnam, China, and throughout the world, making him one of the few Men to land on all 8 continents. In February 1971, he completed his training as a Forward Air Controller in the O-2A and was then deployed to Vietnam where he would become the senior advisor to a VNAF observation squadron. He flew many combat missions, and provided his help in several rescues. On February 29, 1972 he retired from the United States Air Force with the rank of Major. On May 18th, 1957 he married Mary Hazel (Burns). He and Hazel would then have four boys, growing up through the years at several locations throughout his Air Force Career. The family followed wherever he was stationed. Military life was a great adventure for all. As the family grew they celebrated graduations, marriages, and the birth of grandchildren and great grandchildren. Following his career with the USAF he had a second career as a mailman with the United States Postal Service, retiring for good in 1994.

Del is survived by his children, Daniel (Jill) of Tucson AZ, Brian (Rosalie) of Northglenn CO, Stuart (Kathy) of Denver CO, and Scott (Laura) of Las Animas, CO. 8 Grandchildren, and 7 great grandchildren. As well as, nephews Denny (Chris) of Cripple Creek, CO, Doug (Diane) of Gilmore City, Iowa, Dana (Lisa) of Ankeny Iowa and Julia (Isaacson) Scherf of Stevensville, Montana. He is also survived by his best friend and companion for the last 14 years Donna Jones.

He was preceded in death by his parents Dewey and Gwendolyn, wife Hazel, brothers Bruce, Elden “Flick”, and sister Veda Isaacson.

In lieu of flowers, donation can be made to the Civil Air Patrol Unit at,

www.gocivilairpatrol.com/giving