310th Bomb Group, 379th Bomb Squadron, Capt. Heston C Daniel

(Doolittle Raider ("Stand-By* Lt Pilot) POW Stalag Luft I

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310thBG,379thBS, Capt Heston C Daniel, Pilot (Doolittle Raider personnel)

Lt. Heston C Daniel, Pilot - passed away on July 18, 1998. after retirement from the USAF as a Lt Col. and 26 years of service. Information from his son Dennis. Heston was a Stand-By Lt PILOT.
From the 379th Bombardment Squadron War Diary: 21 May 1943 "Lt. McCormick of the 380th was hit by flak over the target and exploded in mid-air. The 379th was also very unfortunate, for Lt. G. C. Beachum’s ship met a similar fate. Our new Sq. Commanding Officer, Capt. Heston C. Daniel, after having recently attained his ambition, was among those lost. Those observing the unfortunate incident say that the right wing was shot off and the ship spun to earth. Although three parachutes were seen to open, it is undetermined as to who was able to leave the doomed plane. Some think that two of the chutes might have been S/Sgts. Dalmaso and Gower, gunner and radio-man respectively, of Lt. J. D. Lindh’s crew. These two men bailed out over the target evidently thinking their ship had been hit because of the violent evasive action their pilot had to employ. The entire personnel of the squadron grieve the loss of Lt. G.C. Beachum and his crew, also Capt. Heston C. Daniel’s mis-fortune, for he was very well liked and respected."

We would later find out that some of BOTH Lost Crews lived and became POW's. Both Heston Daniel and Lt Graham C Beachum (USAF Lt Col Ret) survived.

War-Diary;

For additions and corrrections please contact Barbi Ennis Connolly 57th Bomb Wing Historical Researcher, 321st BG and 319th BG Historian. PRINCESSBARBIB25@msn.com _

310thBG,379thBS, Capt Heston C Daniel, Pilot /COMMANDER /Doolittle Raider

On 21 May 1943 on a Bombing Mission over the Villacidro Air Drome in Sardinia, their plane was hit by flak from intense anti-aircraft fire, shooting off the right wing, and the plane spun to earth. 3 crew members were Killed, 3 other crew members were able to bail out, but were captured by the enemy and held as Prisoners Of War. A/C No. 5 aircraft unidentified (MACR-? - shot down over target by AAA)P: Beachum, Graham C., 2Lt~POWCP: Smith, Donald M., 1Lt~KIAN: NoneB: DeBernardis, Alfred J., S/Sgt~POWE: NoneR: Mencer, William O., S/Sgt~KIA G: Kitzero, Lester A., S/Sgt~KIAN: Daniel, Heston C., Capt, Commander (observer)~POW

Most Stories and pictures from USAF (Ret Col) Bill Bower and in the interest of the 379th BS which is in the process of activating at the 310th Space Wing in Colo Springs.

C.O. of the 380th Space Control Squadron Lt Col Mike Assid.