Daniel Elliot Whitlock
Military2nd LT Daniel Elliott Whitlock of Arroyo Grande, CA is second from left in the front row. Whitlock was awarded the DFC after pilot Lamb was badly burned from a flak hit that set the ship afire during a mission over Berlin on 6 March 1944. Copilot Whitlock knocked the fire down and got his aircrew--minus the navigator and bombardier, who had bailed out on Lamb's order--safely home to RAF Snetterton Heath.
Daniel Whitlock served as a co-pilot with the 377th Bomb Squadron of the 96th Bomb Group.
On 9 March 1944, he was flying B-17 42-97524, returning from a mission to Berlin, when the top turret caught fire. Three crewmen bailed out and with the pilot injured, Whitlock managed to bring the damaged aircraft back to England safely. Whitlock would win the Silver Star for valour. Missing Air Crew Report - MACR 3864.
Awards: SS, AM (3OLC), WWII Victory, EAME (2 x Battle Stars).
Connections
See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.
Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 96th Bomb Group 337th Bomb Squadron 413th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 32430242
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Flight Engineer & Top Turret Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 96th Bomb Group 337th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 13131697
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Aerial Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 96th Bomb Group 337th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-744306
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Bombardier
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 96th Bomb Group 337th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 39192109
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Aerial Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 96th Bomb Group 337th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 36170538
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Aerial Gunner
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Unit: 96th Bomb Group 413th Bomb Squadron
Missions
- Date: 9 March 1944
Places
- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: Station 138
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Born |
3 April 1922 | ||
Enlisted |
Santa Maria Army Air Field, CA | 21 April 1942 | Santa Maria Army Air Field, California |
Other Returned (RTD) |
9 March 1944 | from Berlin mission | |
Died |
Highland, CA | 19 June 2009 | |
Buried |
Riverside National Cemetery Riverside, Riverside County, CA | 22 June 2009 | Riverside National Cemetery Riverside, Riverside County, California |
Palm Springs, CA, USA | |||
Arroyo Grande, CA, USA |
Revisions
MACR 3864
NARA WWII Enlistment records
Obituary at http://www.tributes.com/obituary/show/Daniel-Elliott-Whitlock-86244880
Combined two entries for Daniel E Whitlock into a single entry. This entry now includes information from the following source:
MACR 3864 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database
Correspondence with Jim Gregory, who is writing a book on World War II’s impact on Arroyo Grande, California.
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 3864, Losses of the 8th & 9th Air Forces; Snetterton Falcons pg 76