[3]: 19–20  Engen was assigned to Bombing Squadron 3 (VB-3) at Naval Air Station Daytona Beach for operational training in dive-bombing.

[3]: 20  In August 1943, Engen carrier-qualified by making 8 landings on USS Sable then joined Bombing Squadron 19 (VB-19), flying the Curtiss SB2C Helldiver; nicknamed "the Big-Tailed Beast" by Navy personnel at NAS Los Alamitos.

[3]: 20 [4] In January 1944, Carrier Air Group 19 (CAG-19) embarked on the USS Lexington for transit to Hawaii, offloading at Ford Island.

[3]: 21  On 14 July 1944, Lexington left Enewetak to support the invasion of Guam and Engen later sank a Japanese freighter.

[3]: 24  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 Japan surrendered.

[3]: 23 Engen was released from active service on 1 February 1946, although continued to serve in the United States Navy Reserve with VF-716 at Naval Air Station Los Alamitos.

[3]: 26  On 3 July 1950, Engen participated in the first jet combat missions attacking an airfield near Pyongyang and engaging North Korean Yak-9 fighters.

[3]: 29 In January 1962 Engen was appointed commander of Carrier Air Group 11 and from early 1963 he served as operations officer on the USS Coral Sea.

[3]: 33  In July 1971 he was appointed commander of Carrier Division Four and was awarded a Gold Star to the Legion of Merit for his service during this period.

[citation needed] He and William S. Ivans died on 13 July 1999 when the glider they were flying broke up in flight near Minden, Nevada.