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McDaniel attended flight training at Tuskegee Army Airfield in [[Tuskegee, Alabama]] as a member of its Class 43-A, one of the first flight classes at the airfield. <ref> New York Times. “Armour G. McDaniel, Air Force Pilot, 73.” https://www.nytimes.com/1989/11/16/obituaries/armour-g-mcdaniel-air-force-pilot-73.html </ref> Members of McDaniel’s 43-A class included [[George T. McCrumby]], [[Quitman C. Walker]], [[Andrew Maples]] Jr., [[Charles R. Stanton]], and [[Clinton B. Mills]]. <ref> U.S. Air Force Historical Research Agency. </ref> After completing training in January 14, 1943, McDaniel was deployed to Italy in December 1943 as a member of the all-African American [[301st Fighter Squadron]], better known as the “[[Tuskegee Airmen]].” <ref> CAF RISE ABOVE. “LTC Armour G. McDaniel Sr.” https://cafriseabove.org/armour-g-mcdaniel-sr/ </ref> The squadron’s mission was to provide air cover for Allied ships navigating the Naples, Italy’s harbor and escort Allied bombers into Germany’s strategic targets.
McDaniel attended flight training at Tuskegee Army Airfield in [[Tuskegee, Alabama]] as a member of its Class 43-A, one of the first flight classes at the airfield. <ref> New York Times. “Armour G. McDaniel, Air Force Pilot, 73.” https://www.nytimes.com/1989/11/16/obituaries/armour-g-mcdaniel-air-force-pilot-73.html </ref> Members of McDaniel’s 43-A class included [[George T. McCrumby]], [[Quitman C. Walker]], [[Andrew Maples]] Jr., [[Charles R. Stanton]], and [[Clinton B. Mills]]. <ref> U.S. Air Force Historical Research Agency. </ref> After completing training in January 14, 1943, McDaniel was deployed to Italy in December 1943 as a member of the all-African American [[301st Fighter Squadron]], better known as the “[[Tuskegee Airmen]].” <ref> CAF RISE ABOVE. “LTC Armour G. McDaniel Sr.” https://cafriseabove.org/armour-g-mcdaniel-sr/ </ref> The squadron’s mission was to provide air cover for Allied ships navigating the Naples, Italy’s harbor and escort Allied bombers into Germany’s strategic targets.


On March 24, 1945, Col. [[Benjamin O. Davis Jr.]] led 332nd Fighter Group pilots on a 1,600-mile bomber escort mission from the [[Foggia Airfield Complex]]'s Ramitelli AirField in Italy to protect bombers of the Fifteenth Air Force units on its way to dismantle an enemy tank assembly plant in [[Berlin, Germany]]. When fighter pilots scheduled to take over escort duties failed to show up and [[Benjamin O. Davis Jr.]]’s plane began to suffer engine problems, requiring him to head back to Ramitelli Air Field, McDaniel, now a Captain, assumed command from Davis, leading the pilots to Berlin despite their [[P-51]] aircraft running low on fuel. As they neared Berlin, McDaniels and his pilots were attacked by 25 German [[ Me-262]] fighter jets. They fought gallantly, downing three German jets and suffering no losses to their U.S. bomber fleet. Nonetheless, McDaniel and another P-51 pilot were shot down and captured by the Germans. The Germans held McDaniel at [[Stalag Luft VIIA]] near Moosburg, Germany for over 30 days, until elements of General [George Patton]]’s 14th Armored Division attacked SS troops guarding Stalag VIIA on April 29, 1945, liberating McDaniel and his fellow prisoners of war. <ref>AFHI Virtual Museum. “The Story of Stalag Luft III: Part XI - Liberation.” http://www.comstation.com/afhi/museum/stalag/liberation.html </ref><ref> St Louis Today. “Lt. Col. Armour G. McDaniel leads 301st Fighter Squadron. Sep 26, 2009. https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/lt-col-armour-g-mcdaniel-leads-st-fighter-squadron/article_560f7b56-69d3-11df-b624-00127992bc8b.html </ref>
On March 24, 1945, Col. [[Benjamin O. Davis Jr.]] led 332nd Fighter Group pilots on a 1,600-mile bomber escort mission from the [[Foggia Airfield Complex]]'s Ramitelli AirField in Italy to protect bombers of the Fifteenth Air Force units on its way to dismantle an enemy tank assembly plant in [[Berlin, Germany]]. When fighter pilots scheduled to take over escort duties failed to show up and [[Benjamin O. Davis Jr.]]’s plane began to suffer engine problems, requiring him to head back to Ramitelli Air Field, McDaniel, now a Captain, assumed command from Davis, leading the pilots to Berlin despite their [[P-51]] aircraft running low on fuel. As they neared Berlin, McDaniels and his pilots were attacked by 25 German [[ Me-262]] fighter jets. They fought gallantly, downing three German jets and suffering no losses to their U.S. bomber fleet. Nonetheless, McDaniel, in the lead position, and another P-51 pilot were shot down and captured by the Germans. As McDaniel jumped from his plane, he fractured both of his legs as he landed to the ground.
The Germans initially transported McDaniel to [[Nuremburg, Germany]], [[Munich, Germany]], and ultimately [[Stalag Luft VIIA]] near Moosburg, Germany for over 30 days, until elements of General [George Patton]]’s 14th Armored Division attacked SS troops guarding Stalag VIIA on April 29, 1945, liberating McDaniel and his fellow prisoners of war. <ref>AFHI Virtual Museum. “The Story of Stalag Luft III: Part XI - Liberation.” http://www.comstation.com/afhi/museum/stalag/liberation.html </ref><ref> St Louis Today. “Lt. Col. Armour G. McDaniel leads 301st Fighter Squadron. Sep 26, 2009. https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/lt-col-armour-g-mcdaniel-leads-st-fighter-squadron/article_560f7b56-69d3-11df-b624-00127992bc8b.html </ref>


In January 1945, McDaniel became the 301st Fighter Squadron’s commanding officer, replacing Major [[Lee Rayford]] who was sent to spend the rest of World War II stateside.<ref> Smithsonian NATIONAL AIR AND SPACE MUSEUM. "LT. Col. ARMOUR G. McDANIEL, USAF (Ret)." https://airandspace.si.edu/support/wall-of-honor/lt-col-armour-g-mcdaniel </ref> In 1946, McDaniel became the commandant of cadets at the Tuskegee Army Air Field.
In January 1945, McDaniel became the 301st Fighter Squadron’s commanding officer, replacing Major [[Lee Rayford]] who was sent to spend the rest of World War II stateside.<ref> Smithsonian NATIONAL AIR AND SPACE MUSEUM. "LT. Col. ARMOUR G. McDANIEL, USAF (Ret)." https://airandspace.si.edu/support/wall-of-honor/lt-col-armour-g-mcdaniel </ref> In 1946, McDaniel became the commandant of cadets at the Tuskegee Army Air Field.

Revision as of 15:57, 23 June 2021

Armour G. McDaniel, Sr. (07 July 1916 - November 12, 1989) was a prominent African American military leader, U.S. Air Force Lieutenant Colonel, former Commanding Officer of the 301st Fighter Squadron (known affectionately as the "Tuskegee Airmen"), former Commandant of Cadets at Tuskegee Army Airfield, and World War II prisoner of war who served during World War II and the Korean Conflict. [1]

Early Life, Education

Armour G. McDaniel, Sr. was born July 7, 1916. A native of Martinsville, Virginia, McDaniel was the son of Charlie and Mary Earley McDaniel and a grandson of Sallie Ann Thomas Earley.[2]

McDaniel attended both Lucy Addison High School in Roanoke, Virginia and the Piedmont Christian Institute (High School) (closed in 1933). [3] [4]

He attended Virginia State University, graduating with a B.S. in Business Administration. He also graduated from Temple University with a P.A. in Economics, and received his Teacher Qualification from Rider College in Princeton, New Jersey. [5]

He returned to Martinsville, Virginia to teach English, History, and Social Science at his hometown all-American American high school until the beginning of the World War II.[6]

Military Service, Tuskegee Airmen

McDaniel attended flight training at Tuskegee Army Airfield in Tuskegee, Alabama as a member of its Class 43-A, one of the first flight classes at the airfield. [7] Members of McDaniel’s 43-A class included George T. McCrumby, Quitman C. Walker, Andrew Maples Jr., Charles R. Stanton, and Clinton B. Mills. [8] After completing training in January 14, 1943, McDaniel was deployed to Italy in December 1943 as a member of the all-African American 301st Fighter Squadron, better known as the “Tuskegee Airmen.” [9] The squadron’s mission was to provide air cover for Allied ships navigating the Naples, Italy’s harbor and escort Allied bombers into Germany’s strategic targets.

On March 24, 1945, Col. Benjamin O. Davis Jr. led 332nd Fighter Group pilots on a 1,600-mile bomber escort mission from the Foggia Airfield Complex's Ramitelli AirField in Italy to protect bombers of the Fifteenth Air Force units on its way to dismantle an enemy tank assembly plant in Berlin, Germany. When fighter pilots scheduled to take over escort duties failed to show up and Benjamin O. Davis Jr.’s plane began to suffer engine problems, requiring him to head back to Ramitelli Air Field, McDaniel, now a Captain, assumed command from Davis, leading the pilots to Berlin despite their P-51 aircraft running low on fuel. As they neared Berlin, McDaniels and his pilots were attacked by 25 German Me-262 fighter jets. They fought gallantly, downing three German jets and suffering no losses to their U.S. bomber fleet. Nonetheless, McDaniel, in the lead position, and another P-51 pilot were shot down and captured by the Germans. As McDaniel jumped from his plane, he fractured both of his legs as he landed to the ground.

The Germans initially transported McDaniel to Nuremburg, Germany, Munich, Germany, and ultimately Stalag Luft VIIA near Moosburg, Germany for over 30 days, until elements of General [George Patton]]’s 14th Armored Division attacked SS troops guarding Stalag VIIA on April 29, 1945, liberating McDaniel and his fellow prisoners of war. [10][11]

In January 1945, McDaniel became the 301st Fighter Squadron’s commanding officer, replacing Major Lee Rayford who was sent to spend the rest of World War II stateside.[12] In 1946, McDaniel became the commandant of cadets at the Tuskegee Army Air Field.

During the Korean Conflict, McDaniel was stationed in Alaska where he led several units in Alaska. In 1964, McDaniel retired from the active duty Air Force as a Lieutenant Colonel. He later worked for the U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare in New York City as a Civil Rights Specialist.[13]

Family

After World War II, McDaniel married Faye J. Wilson McDaniel (1935–2019) of Fayetteville, Tennessee. [14] McDaniel had three children: Armour G. McDaniel, Jr. (October 2, 1952 - October 29, 1989), Gregory McDaniel and Gwendolyn Jackson. He also had four step-children: Delmer Jerome Edmonds, Jr., Kevin L. Edmonds, Donald E. Edmonds and Regina F. Majors.[15]

Mrs. McDaniel attended ribbon-cutting ceremonies celebrating the renaming of a section of Interstate 65 near Columbus, Indiana for the Tuskegee Airmen. Surrounded by members of the U.S. military and government officials, Mrs. McDaniel cut the ribbon.[16]

Death, Internments

McDaniel passed away on December 12, 1989 in Indianapolis, Indiana. He is interred at Arlington National Cemetery in Section 65, Grave 2822.[17] His beloved wife, Faye, is buried alongside him in Arlington.[18]

His son, Armour G. McDaniel, Jr. died the same year on October 29, 1989 at Age 37. McDaniel, Jr. is interred in Saint Louis Cemetery, Number 3 in New Orleans, Louisiana. [19]

References

  1. ^ Military Hall of Honor. “Lt. Col. Armour G. McDaniel, Sr.” https://militaryhallofhonor.com/honoree-record.php?id=2827
  2. ^ Martinsville Bulletin. "Tuskegee Airman Armour McDaniel of Martinsville honored his heroic service." Holly Kozelsky. Feb 28, 2019. https://martinsvillebulletin.com/news/local/tuskegee-airman-armour-mcdaniel-of-martinsville-honored-his-heroic-service/article_c11004a6-5223-50db-b7b7-0095bce66046.html
  3. ^ The Roanoke Times. "4 Tuskegee Airmen were Lucy Addison High School grads." Feb 18, 2012. https://roanoke.com/archive/4-tuskegee-airmen-were-lucy-addison-high-school-grads/article_059e6a73-032a-57b9-ba6d-22976bd39cda.html
  4. ^ AfroVirginia. “Piedmont Christian Institute.” http://places.afrovirginia.org/items/show/338
  5. ^ Smithsonian NATIONAL AIR AND SPACE MUSEUM. "LT. Col. ARMOUR G. McDANIEL, USAF (Ret)." https://airandspace.si.edu/support/wall-of-honor/lt-col-armour-g-mcdaniel
  6. ^ Smithsonian NATIONAL AIR AND SPACE MUSEUM. "LT. Col. ARMOUR G. McDANIEL, USAF (Ret)." https://airandspace.si.edu/support/wall-of-honor/lt-col-armour-g-mcdaniel
  7. ^ New York Times. “Armour G. McDaniel, Air Force Pilot, 73.” https://www.nytimes.com/1989/11/16/obituaries/armour-g-mcdaniel-air-force-pilot-73.html
  8. ^ U.S. Air Force Historical Research Agency.
  9. ^ CAF RISE ABOVE. “LTC Armour G. McDaniel Sr.” https://cafriseabove.org/armour-g-mcdaniel-sr/
  10. ^ AFHI Virtual Museum. “The Story of Stalag Luft III: Part XI - Liberation.” http://www.comstation.com/afhi/museum/stalag/liberation.html
  11. ^ St Louis Today. “Lt. Col. Armour G. McDaniel leads 301st Fighter Squadron. Sep 26, 2009. https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/lt-col-armour-g-mcdaniel-leads-st-fighter-squadron/article_560f7b56-69d3-11df-b624-00127992bc8b.html
  12. ^ Smithsonian NATIONAL AIR AND SPACE MUSEUM. "LT. Col. ARMOUR G. McDANIEL, USAF (Ret)." https://airandspace.si.edu/support/wall-of-honor/lt-col-armour-g-mcdaniel
  13. ^ St Louis Today. “Lt. Col. Armour G. McDaniel leads 301st Fighter Squadron. Sep 26, 2009. https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/lt-col-armour-g-mcdaniel-leads-st-fighter-squadron/article_560f7b56-69d3-11df-b624-00127992bc8b.html
  14. ^ Find a Grave. “Faye J Wilson McDaniel.” https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/205688089/faye-j.-mcdaniel.”
  15. ^ Find a Grave. “Faye J Wilson McDaniel.” https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/205688089/faye-j.-mcdaniel.”
  16. ^ “Stretch of I-65 renamed to recognize Tuskegee Airmen.” Julie McClure. 10/21/2016. http://www.tribtown.com/2016/10/21/stretch-of-i-65-renamed-to-recognize-tuskegee-airmen/
  17. ^ Find a Grave. Lt. Col. Armour G. McDaniel, Sr. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/18238/armour-g.-mcdaniel
  18. ^ Find a Grave. “Faye J Wilson McDaniel.” https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/205688089/faye-j.-mcdaniel.”
  19. ^ Find a Grave. Lt. Col. Armour G. McDaniel, Jr. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/189108194/armour-g-mcdaniel
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