Lt
Cecil O. DANIELS
Lt. Cecil O. Daniels
Lt. Cecil O. Daniels (100th Photo Archives)
Army Serial Number: O-808196
Assigned to the 100th Bombardment Group
Location:
Unit: 350th Bombardment Squadron
Rank:
Position: Pilot
Beginning Date of 100th Service: Unknown
Time of Service at Thorpe Abbotts: Unknown - Unknown
Additional 100th Service Notes
Status: CPT
Comments: 3 JAN 45 FULDA
Media Articles
Use your thumb to scroll through the results box below.
| Media Item | Type | Page | Volume/Issue | Broadcast Source | Time | Description | File |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cecil Daniels names Fortress | Chicago Tribune January 11 1945 | 12:00 am | |||||
| Cecil Daniels leave | Macon News July 5 1945 | 12:00 am |
Comments and Notes
Memo 1:
CREW
2ND LT CECIL O. DANIELS P CPT 03 JAN 45 FULDA sn# O-808196
2ND LT GORDON A. HANSEN CP CPT 03 JAN 45 FULDA finished with 33 missions
2ND LT JOHN V. LARSON NAV CPT 28 JAN 45 DUISBURG (BECAME LEAD NAV ON LT SPURGEON PATHFINDER CREW, see below)
2ND LT ROBERT L. STORY BOM WIA 17 OCT 44 COLOGNE (TAPS 1967)
CPL HOWARD A. DRALLE ROG WIA 03 OCT 44 NURNBURG
SGT SAMUEL M. WOLFE, JR. TTE WIA 15 OCT 44 COLOGNE (TAPS 1984)
CPL LESLIE P. MILLS BTG CPT 03 JAN 45 FULDA
CPL JOSEPH W. ADAMS, JR. WG GND FOR MEDICAL REASONS (CHRONIC AIR SICKNESS)
CPL WILLIAM KILPATRICK, JR WG REMOVED TO REDUCE TO 9 MAN CREW AND REASSIGNED TO CREW OF C.K. BAKER,
WOUNDEDIN ACTION 30 NOV 44 ON 18TH MISSION.
CPL JORGEN N. NIELSEN TG CPT 03 JAN 45 FULDA
350th Sqdn. Crew 28. Crew, as above joined the 100th on 25 Jul 1944.
Crew flew "Spirit of Pittwood" #46297
Ground Crew Chief: Sgt John C. Riffle
Lt .Micheljon flew the first 2 missions as CP for crew orientation instead of Lt Gordon Hansen.
At Thorpe Abbotts, Lt John Larson was selected for lead crew training and replaced on the Daniels crew by F/O Richard A. Nesline who CPT on 3 Jan 1945 with 35 sorties. Promoted to 1st Lt before returning to the ZOI. (zone of the interior)
Howard Dralle was replaced by Sgt Robert G. "Dutch" Schultz who flew 17 missions before being assigned to another crew where he finished his tour. "Dutch Schultz came overseas with the Crew of Lt C.K. Baker
Joseph Adams was removed from crew after one mission and assigned to 350th operations by Maj. Rosenthal for medical reasons (chronic air sickness-see info below). He was replaced by S/Sgt Remi G. Eberenz from the A.S. Spear crew.
Sgt Sam Wolfe Jr TTE, hit in ankle 10/15/44 over Cologne on 19th Mission by Flak. Replacement unknown
Crew received 3 Purple Hearts and was credited with 3 Enemy A/C 1destroyed, 1 probable, 1 damaged (all info provided by Cecil O. Daniels, entered by mpf)
CREW flying at end of tour:
1st Lt Cecil O. Daniels Pilot
1st Lt Gordon A. Hansen CP
F/O Richard A. Nesline Nav
? Toggleer
Sgt. Robert G."Dutch" Schultz ROG
? TTE
S/Sgt Leslie P. Mills BTG
S/Sgt Jorgen N. Nielson TG
S/Sgt Remi G. Eberenz WG
MISSIONS OF LT CECIL DANIELS CREW:
# Date Target # of A/C CALL Name
1. 8/4/44 Hamburg 42-97924 LN-H Party Tonight (only mission flown by S/Sgt Joseph Adams. Grounded due to air sickness)
2. 8/5/44 Magdeburg 43-37882 LN-W Happy-Go-Lucky (S/Sgt Remi G. Eberenz replaces S/Sgt Adams as Waist Gunner)
3. 8/6/44 BERLIN 43-38043 LN-T
4. 8/11/44 Paris 42-102958 LN-Z
5. 8/13/44 Nantes 42-102958 LN-Z
6. 8/14/44 Ludwigshaven 43-37882 LN-W Happy-Go-Lucky
7. 8/15/44 Venlo 42-31220 LN-P Fletcher's Castoria II
8. 8/24/44 Ruhland 44-6297 LN-X Spirit of Pittwood
9. 9/1/44 Mainz
10. 9/3/44 Crozon, Breast Penn.
11. 9/9/44 Dusseldorf
12. 9/10/44 Nurnburg
13. 9/25/44 Ludwigshaven
14. 9/26/44 Bremen
15. 9/27/44 Mainz
16. 9/28/44 Mersburg
17. 10/2/44 Kassel
18. 10/3/44 Nurnburg (T/Sgt Dralle Hit over Koblenz, Lost Leg. Replaced by Sgt. "Dutch" Schultz
19. 10/15/44 ` Cologne (Sgt Wolfe hit in ankle by flak, put in hospital. Replaced by unknown TTE)
20. 10/17/44 Cologne (Lt Story injured, flak in eye, replaced by unknown toggleer)
21. 10/19/44 Ludwigshaven
22. 10/22/44 Munster
23. 10/26/44 Hanover
24. 11/9/44 Saarbrucken
25. 11/21/44 Osnabruck
26. 12/4/44 Friedburg
27. 12/11/44 Coblenz
28. 12/18/44 Mainz
29. 12/25/44 Kaiserlautern
30. 12/27/44 Fulda
31. 12/29/44 Frankfurt
32. 12/30/44 Kassel
33. 12/31/44 Hamburg
34. 1/2/45 Bad Kreuznach
35. 1/3/45 Fulda
Flak leave: 10/5/44 to 10/12/44
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Thank you Michael. I only flew on our first mission on Aug. 4,1944 to Hamburg. After several pratcice missions was grounded for chronic Air Sickness. Rosie put me in the 350th operations office as a Clerk Typest. (thank goodness I learned to type in high school) as a Staff Sargent. That was my job until the 100th came home in Dec. 1945 on the Queen Mary. A 5 day trip and I was sick for 6 days from that trip. Even Daniels couldn't remember who replaced Wolf as Top Turret Engineer and Lt. Story (Bombardier) as Toggler. I did not keep a Diary - sorry. I might find some photo's. Where should I mail them?......JOSEPH ADAMS, WG.
In a message dated 12/19/2008 3:03:45 P.M. Eastern Standard Time, MPFaley writes:
Hi Joseph,
I will get this taken care of Sir. Can I ask you some questions concerning your time in the 100th BG?
How many missions did you fly before being taken off flying Status?
Do you have a list of those missions?
What was the medical reason for being grounded.
At the end of hostilities, Lt Daniels had a new Top Turret Engineer and Toggler, do you know who they were? These are the only two people I cannot pin down on the Crew?
Did you keep any kind of Diary you could share with us?
Rosie put you in 350th Operations, what was your Job there?
Do you have any Crew photos taken with you on the crew or with others you could share with us?
Thanks Joseph and sorry to hear about the loss of your Pilot.
Michael Faley
100th Bomb Group Historian
100th Bomb Group Photo Archives
In a message dated 12/19/2008 11:49:28 A.M. Pacific Standard Time, JAdams5075@aol.com writes:
I am trying to report the death of a Pilot of the 350th Sqdn. 2nd. Lt. Cecil O. Daniels age 86. He was the Pilot of "Spirit of Pittwood" from July 44 - Jan 45. Died on July 14, 2008 Watseka, Ill.
I was a former member of his crew. Joseph W. Adams
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NOTE:
CREW
Lt Paul L.Spurgeon P CPT 28 JAN 45 DUISBURG
Lt John E. David CP KIA 3 SEP 44 BREST (as pilot of own crew, see below) replaced F/O C.G. Sharemet on Politz mission
Lt John V.Larson NAV CPT 28 JAN 45 DUISBURG (Lead Nav, originally from Lt C. Daniels Crew, see below)
Lt Frederick H.Theesfeld BOM CPT 7 MAR 45 SIEGEN, MY (S.T.) (FLEW 31 MISSIONS)
T/Sgt E.S.Balcseniuk ROG CPT 28 JAN 45 DUISBURG ?
T/Sgt Alfred J.Vignola TTE CPT 28 JAN 45 DUISBURG ?
S/Sgt W.R. Klein BTG NOC Replaced on crew by Radar Operator in late October 44 when this became a lead crew,
S/Sgt Thomas J.Dressel WG WIA (Wounded 25/8/44 POLITZ & month in hospital)
S/Sgt Robert E.Kauffman TG NOC ( Flew 21 missions on crew of A.D.Elbel, last one on 8/8/44, then in spare gunners pool , see below)
350th Sqdn. Crew appears as above on Roster of 25/8/44 target: (POLITZ) as Crew #29. Thls was probably a "pick up" crew. ( this information is suspect concerning this crew, likely they flew together very little, perhaps only once..jb). Lt Spurgeon had a lead Crew and the actual make up is listed below. It is know that they were leading on Nov 2, 1944 to Merseburg with Col Sammy Barr as Command Pilot.
Other Members who flew on this Crew
Lt R.A Nesline-Nav (replaced Lt Larson on Lt Daniels Crew) Flew as NAV on first mission of Spurgeon Crew 8/8/44
Lt J.D. Goethel-Bom (from Lt David Crew) Flew as BOM on first mission of Spurgeon Crew 8/8/44
S/Sgt Remi Eberenz flew as WG on missions with this crew
Lt Spurgeon took over "JIMB0" A/C 44-8226 LN-B in November 1944 and he selected the name. It was a nickname for his Stateside Wife. Jimbo was painted on the left hand side of the aircraft. On the cowlings of No 3 & 4 engines could be seen the names "Kay" and "Alice" probably put on by the ground crew.
See S.D.C. p.33 & 95 "JIMB0" A/C 44-8226 LN-B This was a Pathfinder aircraft originally assigned to the 95th Bomb Group (13th CBW HQ for Pathfinder Crews and Aircraft in Summer and early fall 1944) in October 1944. The practice during this time was to fly Pathfinder A/C from Horham to the surrounding airdromes to lead the 3rd Air Division Bomb Groups. In late October this practice ceased and Pathfinders were assigned to each Bomb Group and both Crews and planes were maintained at their own bases.
THIS WAS THE MAKE-UP OF LT PAUL SPURGEON'S LEAD CREW.
LT PAUL SPURGEON P CPT 28 JAN 45 DUISBURG
LT C.G. SHAREMET CP CPT 28 JAN 45 DUISBURG ?
LT JOHN V. LARSON NAV CPT 28 JAN 45 DUISBURG ((Lead Nav originally from Lt C. Daniels Crew, see below)
LT FREDERICK H. THEESFELD BOM CPT 7 MAR 45 DATTELN, SIEGEN, MY (S.T.)
T/SGT ALFRED VIGNOLA TTE CPT 28 JAN 45 DUISBURG ?
T/SGT E.S. BALCSENIUK ROG CPT 28 JAN 45 DUISBURG ?
S/SGT W.R. KLEIN BTG NOC (replaced by Radar Operator in late October 44 when this became a lead crew)
S/SGT P.J. HAHN WG NOC (orignal LWG on Capt H. Smith Crew, replaced Sgt Dressel after he was wounded on 25/8/1944 Politz)
S/SGT L.S. "Andy" ANDERSON TG CPT 28 Jan 45 DUISBURG (replaced Sgt Kauffman)
Now based on mission completions and photo evidence, Lt Theesfeld came off this crew at some point since he completes two months after the Spurgeon Crew does. Also S/Sgt Dressel returns to the Crew but not sure in what capacity since photo evidence shows both Hahn (who replaced Dressel when he was injured on Aug 25, 1944) and Dressel in Crew photos.
Missions of John V Larson with Lt Daniels/ Lt Spurgeon Crew
Date Target # of A/C Call Sign A/C Name Pilot
08-Aug-44 Hamburg 42-97924 LN-H Party Tonight Daniels
05-Aug-44 Magdeburg 43-37882 LN-W Happy-Go-Lucky Daniels
06-Aug-44 Berlin 43-38043 LN-T Daniels
11-Aug-44 Villacoublay 42-102958 LN-Z Daniels
13-Aug-44 Nantes 42-102958 LN-Z Daniels
14-Aug-44 Ludwigshaven 43-37882 LN-W Happy-Go-Lucky Daniels
15-Aug-44 Venlo 42-31220 LN-P Fletcher's Castoria II Daniels
24-Aug-44 Ruhland 44-6297 LN-X Spirit of Pittwood Daniels
25-Aug-44 Politz 43-38076 LN-S Aces and Eights Spurgeon (S/Sgt Dressel WG is wounded, Lt J.E.David flew as CP,
Lt Larson flies first mission on Lt Spurgeon Crew, S/Sgt Kauffman is TG)
26-Aug-44 Brest 43-38076 LN-S Aces and Eights Spurgeon (S/Sgt Hahn becomes permenant WG, S/Sgt Kauffman is TG)
01-Sep-44 Mainz (recalled) 43-38076 LN-S Aces and Eights Spurgeon (S/Sgt Anderson becomes permenant TG)
03-Sep-44 Brest 43-38076 LN-S Aces and Eights Spurgeon
05-Sep-44 Stuttgart 43-38076 LN-S Aces and Eights Spurgeon
08-Sep-44 Mainz 43-37863 LN-L Leading Lady Spurgeon (S/Sgt(Kaufman flies as WG on mission)
12-Sep-44 Magdeburg 44-6297 LN-X Spirit of Pittwood Spurgeon
13-Sep-44 Sindelfingen 43-37994 LN-D My Blue Heaven Spurgeon
18-Sep-44 Warsaw 43-38437 LN-S Spurgeon
19-Sep-44 Szolnok (from Russia) 43-38437 LN-S Spurgeon
28-Sep-44 Merseburg 43-38437 LN-S Spurgeon
03-Oct-44 Nurnburg Spurgeon
06-Oct-44 BERLIN Spurgeon
26-Oct-44 Hanover Spurgeon (Believe this is the first mission as a Lead Crew…mpf)
02-Nov-44 Merseburg 44-8226 LN-B Jimbo Spurgeon Col Sammy Barr Command Pilot, leading 100th
05-Nov-44 Ludwigshaven Spurgeon
21-Nov-44 Osnabruck Spurgeon
29-Nov-44 Hamm Spurgeon (F/O C.G.Sharemet promoted to 2nd Lt.)
12-Dec-44 Darmstadt Spurgeon
25-Dec-44 Kaiserlautern Spurgeon
30-Dec-44 Kassel Spurgeon
02-Jan-45 Bad Kreuznach 44-8226 LN-B Jimbo Spurgeon
03-Jan-45 Fulda Spurgeon
10-Jan-45 Cologne Spurgeon
13-Jan-45 Mainz Spurgeon
21-Jan-45 Mannheim Spurgeon
28-Jan-45 Duisburg Spurgeon
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Photos
Gordon Hansen
Back row L. to R. Lt. Gordon Hansen - CP, Lt. Cecil O. Daniels - P, Lt. Dick Nesline - NAV, Middle row, Unkown - Ground Crew, Unknown - Ground Crew, Front, Sgt. John Riffle - Crew Chief (100th Photo Archives)
Crew List
1st Crew List
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| Rank | Name | Pos | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lt | DANIELS, Cecil O. | P | CPT |
| LT | HANSEN, Gordon A. | CP | CPT |
| LT | LARSON, John V. | NAV | CPT |
| Lt | NESLINE, Richard A. | NAV | CPT |
| Lt | STORY, Robert | BOM | WIA |
| T/SGT | WOLFE, Samuel M. | TTE | WIA |
| T/Sgt | DRALLE, Howard A. | ROG | SWA |
| S/Sgt | MILLS, Leslie P. | BTG | CPT |
| S/Sgt | ADAMS, Joseph W. | WG | RFS |
| S/Sgt | KILPATRICK, William | TG | SWA |
| S/SGT | NIELSEN, Jorgen N. | TG | CPT |
2nd Crew List
Use your thumb to scroll through the results box below.
| Rank | Name | Pos | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lt | DANIELS, Cecil O. | P | CPT |
| S/Sgt | EBERENZ, Remi G. | BTG | CPT |
| S/SGT | SCHULTZ, Robert G. | WG | CPT |
