Col Earl G. Depner
About Col. Depner
Earl Depner was a decorated Col. in the Army Air Core who flew the P51 in WW2. But after his duties, he was a longtime resident here in Monument, being in the Knights of Columbus and passing at the age of 104, (1917 - 2022). With his passing, he was the reason this project started to dedicate him and many other WW2 pilots who served for our country.
His Military Career
With Col Depner being in the Army Air Core, he flew the P51 executing bombing runs against the axis powers in WW2 in the European Theater. During his missions, he shot down an enemy aircraft and broke 7 ribs while he ejected from his P51, while also being shot down, earning a Purple Heart for his actions. Throughout his time in the army, he flew over 88 missions which is no easy feat to at this time. You can read about his incredible stories here.
Personal Life and Legacy
After his service in WW2, he retired in Monument Colorado with his wife who he married in 1959, Rosanna Loscalzo. They had two sons, George and Martin, and six grandchildren. Throughout his time in Monument he was an active duty Knight of Columbus member for 84 years, (which is technically a world record). With this, in 2025, Knights of Columbus post 11514 was renamed to "The Earl G. Depner Assembly". But with his passing in early 2022, we found out about his legacy and decided to honor him for his actions by the placing of the statue in his honor.