Edwin Bruce Daily

Military
media-23655.jpeg UPL 23655 James Bestervelt's Crew with Major Bruce Daily as Command. Back row: (L-R) Capt. A.M. Adams-Formation Observer, Lt. W.J. Beatovich-Navigator, Major Bruce Daily-Command Pilot, Lt. Charles Anderson-Bombardier, Lt. William Campbell-Co-pilot. Front row: (L-R) T/Sgt. Henry A. Brooks-Radio Operator, Capt. James Bestervelt-Pilot, Lt. T.C. Bowles-Radar Operator, S/Sgt. Leonard B. Wolfe-Waist Gunner, S/Sgt. Thomas Tartarian-Waist Gunner, T/Sgt. W.L. Brubaker-Engineer. Photo taken on 4th August 1944.

398th Bomb Group Collection via Nuthampstead Airfield Museum.

Object Number - UPL 23655 - James Bestervelt's Crew with Major Bruce Daily as Command. Back row: (L-R) Capt. A.M. Adams-Formation Observer, Lt. W.J. Beatovich-Navigator, Major...

Group commander 9 Feb 1945 for Altenbeken mission. Group commander on 27 Feb, 1945 Leipzig, Germany mission and 4 March, 1945 on Ulm, Germany mission. Group Commander on 14 March 1945 on Vlotho, and Osnabruk, Germany mission and 21 March 1945 on Rheine A/F, Germany mission and 28 March, 1945 on Berlin mission. 5 April 1945 to Grafonwehr, Germany, 10 April 1945 to Oranienburg, Germany, and 15 April 1945 to Fort Royan, France.



Daily had earned an Air Medal for his flying on 6 June 1944.



Special award: 27 June 1944: Major, Air Corps, for extraordinary achievement while serving as Air Commander of a Combat Bombardment Wing of B-17s on a bombing mission over Germany on 20 June 1944. On this date he assembled elements of the Wing formation and proceeded on course for the objective. Anti-aircraft fire affected some of his most important instruments so he was forced to relinquish command due to mechanical difficulties. The operation was carried out with a high degree of success. 'The exemplary actions of Major Daily contributed in large measure to the excellent results achieved. The courage, coolness and skill displayed by Major Daily reflected the highest credit upon himself. '

He stayed on in the Air Force and served as base commander at Dyess Texas AFB and Warren Wyoming AFB.

Connections

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Units served with

The insignia of the 398th Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

Two airmen of the 398th Bomb Group examine the damaged tail of a B-17 Flying Fortress.
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 398th Bomb Group 600th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-774634
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Co pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 398th Bomb Group 600th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 35895845
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Tail Gunner

Aircraft

An airman stands inside the severely-damaged nose of a B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 44-8811) of the 398th Bomb Group. Official caption printed on image: 'A/C 44-8811, (GAD- 144-4-398)(8-4-45)(Flak Damage & Crash Landing).'
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Unit: 398th Bomb Group 600th Bomb Squadron

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

3 June 1915

Born

14 July 1941

Enlisted

14 July 1941

Died

21 December 2002

Based

Revisions

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

Added " / " in the "Role/job" field as a separator to aid readability.

Date
ContributorHelen
Changes
Sources

Flak News April 2003

Date
ContributorHotelie1970
Changes
Sources

General Order 594 from Headquarters 1st Bombardment Division, Office of the Commanding General, by Command of Brigadier General Turner, dated 7 December 1944.

Date
ContributorLucy May
Changes
Sources

Combined three entries for Edwin Bruce Daily into a single entry. Now includes information from the following sources:
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / Mention in Hell from Heaven: Memoirs of a WW II B-17 Bombardier by Leonard Streitfeld p.160; 398th History, Vol II
398th History / Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

398th BG History; Fortress Over Nuthampstead, pg 9, 10 / Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia

Edwin Bruce Daily: Gallery (2 items)