Daniel Francis Sharkey was born on 7 May 1921 in Bayonne, Hudson County, New Jersey. He was the son of Hugh and Mary Jeanne Boyle Sharkey. His parents were both born in Ireland. His father coming from County Donegal. He had five younger siblings. Four brothers and a sister. Daniel Sharkey graduated from St Mary of the Assumption High School in Elizabeth, New Jersey.

On 16 October 1940, he worked for the Bethlehem Steel Company, Mariners Harbor, Staten Island, New York. He was 5’9” and weighed 160 pounds. He had blue eyes, blonde hair, and a light complexion.

He enlisted in the Army Air Corps at Newark, New Jersey on 29 June 1942. He was a pilot and served as a P-38 Lightning Instructor at Hamilton Field in California. He later volunteered for combat duty. In his last letter home from the South Pacific, dated 6 October 1944, he indicated he was satisfied that he was "Where God and Uncle Sam wanted me to be."

On 16 October 1944 2Lt Daniel Sharkey was flying the P-38H #42-66574. He was on a mission ferrying aircraft from Australia to New Guinea when he was lost on his approach.

Daniel Sharkey is buried or memorialized at Tablets of the Missing Manila American Cemetery Manila, Philippines. This is an American Battle Monuments Commission location.

Lt Daniel Starkey was awarded the following commendations: ★ Air Medal ★ Purple Heart ★ United States Aviator Badge ★ World War II Victory Medal ★ American Campaign Medal ★ Army Presidential Unit Citation ★ Army Good Conduct Medal and the ★ Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal.

A grateful nation honors his service and keeps his memory alive.

This story was created by researching numerous records. These included census records, military application for headstone, World War II Army Enlistment Record, Findagrave.com , Newspapers.com articles, Honorstates.org, etc.

This story is part of the Stories Behind the Stars project (see www.storiesbehindthestars.org). This is a national effort of volunteers to write the stories of all 400,000+ of the US WWII fallen here on Fold3. Can you help write these stories?

2Lt Daniel Francis Sharkey