John Daniels

John S. Daniels died July 19, 1997, Racine, Wisconsin

Stars and Stripes Article

12/17/1944: Daniels Worried About 4 Motors - Odertal, Germany Mission

15th AAF In Italy: When two engines of a B-24 Liberator are shot out on a bombing mission, there is good reason for worrying about getting back to the home base, but when four go out, it usually means that it is too late for worrying. S/Sgt. John S Daniels, 20, a tail gunner from Windsor, Wis. did not have much time for anything when all of the engines of his B-24 Liberator cut out suddenly over the Adriatic on returning from a mission to the vital Nazi oil refineries at Odertal, Germany. The big bomber had dropped its bombs on the target and had reached the Adriatic on its return journey, "Meanwhile, I was listening to Xavier Cugat play "Take It Easy" and calmly doing likewise back in the tail," said Sgt. Daniels. "Suddenly I noticed that our engines had cut out and we were going down towards the water. Believe me, I wasted no time in getting out of the turret, grabbing my chute as I left. But before I put it on, we had already started to climb. As the engines caught on, the water looked so near, I though I could reach down and touch the waves. Getting a whiff of smoke on the command deck, I glanced out and noticed that No. 2 engine was trailing smoke with flames. The pilot quickly feathered that prop and lucky for us the fire went out soon afterwards and had only burned away one side of the engine nacelle." Finally, the bomber reached its base and landed only a few minutes late.

Daniels Completed Overseas Duty

March 11, 1945: John departed Italy for the United States. He was credited with 52 Missions while he served in the 15th Air Force. Official records indicate he participated in attacks in Rome - Arno, the North Apennines, Southern France and the Rhineland.

Decorations and Citations

AIR METAL with 2 Silver & 4 Bronze Clusters

GOOD CONDUCT METAL

EAME METAL (EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN) with 3 Bronze Stars

PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION

John S. Daniels attended the University of Wisconsin - Madison and Palmer Chiropractic School in Davenport, Iowa after the war and practiced in Racine, Wisconsin until 1994. John and his wife, Arlene enjoyed a full and rewarding life raising six sons.

John Daniels front row - far left

S/Sgt. John S Daniels was assigned to the 459th BG 756th Squadron.
Military Occupational Specialty (MOS): Tail Gunner.

The following information on John Daniels is gathered and extracted from military records. We have many documents and copies of documents, including military award documents. It is from these documents that we have found this information on S/Sgt. Daniels. These serviceman's records are nowhere near complete and we are always looking for more material. If you can help add to John Daniels's military record please contact us.