United States Navy Officer. A Captain in the United States Navy at the outbreak America's particiaption of World War II. he was the only pilot in the air when war was delcared on Japan and in the air near Tokyo Bay when Japan surrended to General Douglas MacArthur aboard the USS Missouri. On December 7, 1941 Captain Daniels was launched from the first USS Enterprise in his F4F-3A Wildcat Fighter along with others to search for the retreating Japanese attack fleet; after terminating the search they were returning to the aircraft carrier and six, including Daniels, were directed to land at the Ford Island airstrip. Panicky sailors on the ground, although advised that friendly United States planes would be incoming, released a barrage of rounds at the six approaching planes. Daniels survived the deluge of friendly fire and landed his aircraft at Ford Island as directed. Almost four years later he was also in the air above Tokyo Harbor in the war's final days in September 1945 when Japan surrendered. A graduate of George Washington University and, later in his career, the Naval War College, he had been assigned to Hawaii upon graduating from the Navy's flight school in 1939. He rose to the rank of Captain and retired in 1970 after 33 years of service during which he had logged 4,500 hours in the air, mostly flying off aircraft carriers. He flew 110 combat missions during World War II and Korea and earned numerous decorations including the Legion of Merit with Gold Star and Combat V, Distinguished Flying Cross and six Air Medals. Died of natural causes.
United States Navy Officer. A Captain in the United States Navy at the outbreak America's particiaption of World War II. he was the only pilot in the air when war was delcared on Japan and in the air near Tokyo Bay when Japan surrended to General Douglas MacArthur aboard the USS Missouri. On December 7, 1941 Captain Daniels was launched from the first USS Enterprise in his F4F-3A Wildcat Fighter along with others to search for the retreating Japanese attack fleet; after terminating the search they were returning to the aircraft carrier and six, including Daniels, were directed to land at the Ford Island airstrip. Panicky sailors on the ground, although advised that friendly United States planes would be incoming, released a barrage of rounds at the six approaching planes. Daniels survived the deluge of friendly fire and landed his aircraft at Ford Island as directed. Almost four years later he was also in the air above Tokyo Harbor in the war's final days in September 1945 when Japan surrendered. A graduate of George Washington University and, later in his career, the Naval War College, he had been assigned to Hawaii upon graduating from the Navy's flight school in 1939. He rose to the rank of Captain and retired in 1970 after 33 years of service during which he had logged 4,500 hours in the air, mostly flying off aircraft carriers. He flew 110 combat missions during World War II and Korea and earned numerous decorations including the Legion of Merit with Gold Star and Combat V, Distinguished Flying Cross and six Air Medals. Died of natural causes.
Bio by: Fred Beisser
Inscription
Capt, U.S. Navy
Family Members
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See more Daniels memorials in:
Records on Ancestry
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U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007
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U.S., Newspapers.com™ Marriage Index, 1800s-2020
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1930 United States Federal Census
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Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S., National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (Punchbowl), 1941-2011
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U.S., Newspapers.com™ Obituary Index, 1800s-current
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