Henry John Deutschendorf, Jr.
He was born in Roswell, New Mexico, as Henry John Deutschendorf Jr. on December 31, 1943. His interest in airplanes stemmed directly from his father, who was a United States Air Force pilot and flying instructor.
John Denver. Photo By Associated Newspapers/Shutterstock
Denver learned how to fly at a young age through his father, and it was a passion he held on to his whole life. During the late 1940s and ‘50s, his family moved around a lot – to Oklahoma, Arizona, Alabama, and Texas – which wasn’t easy on the boy.