Captain English was a crew member of Air Force RB-29 "Sunbonnet King" of the 91st Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron. His aircraft was on a photo mission over Northern Hokkaido and was shot down by two Soviet LA-11 fighters near Yuri Island on 7 October 1952.

English was awarded the Purple Heart, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Presidential Unit Citation and the Republic of Korea War Service Medal.