A son of Daniel & Florence (Hangartner) Jones, Daniel Jones Jr. was born in Du Bois, Penn. He and his family moved to Youngstown, Ohio when he was in his early teens. He left Youngstown High School to enter the service on Jan. 17, 1941 and went over seas in Nov. 1943. He had completed eight flight missions prior to the ill fated assignment that claimed his life.
Gunner S/Sgt. Daniel C. Jones KIA
Hometown: Youngstown, Ohio
Squadron: 579th BS 392th Bomb Group
Service #15016719
Awards: Purple Heart
Pilot 1st/Lt. Dallas O. Books KIA
Target: Helmstedt Germany
MISSING AIRCREW REPORT: #03319
Date Lost: 20-Feb-44
Serial Number: #41-28742
Aircraft Model B-24
Aircraft Letter: "A-Bar"
Aircraft Name: "OLD GLORY" 1st Mission
Location:Hardt near Schramberg County Rottweil Germany
Cause: German fighters Crew of 10 9KIA
The mission this day would see the 392nd suffer its heaviest losses, both aircraft and aircrew members, of any individual raid ever flown during its combat experience in World War II. Before the mission was completed, (14) aircraft and crews would be lost and (9) other ships damaged by fighters and flak, all totaling (154) casualties. General briefing for (28) aircrews was conducted between 0400-0530 hours.
MISSION LOSS CIRCUMSTANCES: Accounts of this aircrew's loss were very limited. Major Keilman, Acting Command Pilot and 579th Squadron Commander in the Group lead ship for this mission, did report that flames were seen on the flight deck of Books' aircraft and when last seen this plane appeared to be under control, flying very low and (8) parachutes were seen. In the hectic aftermath of withdrawal by the Group's surviving aircraft after bombing this target where the entire formation had come under fierce, persistent and heavy enemy fighter attacks, the fates of many individual 392nd planes and crews could not be positively determined at the time. Every aircrew, aircraft and individual crew member in the remaining ships were literally fighting for survival in an all-out effort to repulse the many German fighter firing passes in protecting their own aircraft and the other ships in the Group's formation, particularly as they all began the outbound route home immediately after target.
INDIVIDUAL ACCOUNTS OF CREWMEN FATES: The only survivor of this aircrew's tragic consequences was Staff Sergeant Chester Strickler who was taken as Prisoner-of-War near the plane's crash site. After release from POW status, Sgt. Strickler wrote a lengthy letter to Mrs Morris, a close Family member of the crew's Engineer, Staff Sergeant Morris, who perished in this emergency that mission day. In summary, Sgt Strickler recapped the crew's immediate background as a well-functioning unit and the events of that fateful day: the plane assigned to this aircrew for this mission was a newly acquired B-24 by the 392nd and was flying its first sortie with the Group. The Books' crew promptly nicknamed the new plane, "OLD GLORY", just before they took off, and this mission was the 8th one for the entire crew. He related they were shot down about (80) miles northwest of Fredrichshafen on the return route and the time was around 3:15pm when the ship blew up. He recalled this time very well just after he hit the ground. No other details in this account dealt directly with the crew's emergency leading up to the final crash. German Report #KU1254, and dated 21 March 1944, gave the general findings about the crashed plane and crewmember status. The final crash site was recorded as being (1500) meters northwest of the Community of Hardt, near Schramberg, County of Rottweil, Germany (Black Forest area), and occurring at 1510 hours. It further noted that (9) bodies had been recovered at the scene, (3) of which were not identifiable due to severe burns. A tenth crewmember had been captured which accounted for all (10) men. The deceased members identified were Books; Morris; Hampton; Gray; Slack and Porter. (The unidentified bodies were those of Slowik, Jones and Willig as later determined inasmuch as Strickler was the captured crew member). This German Report also noted that it had been 'ascertained' that a fighter had downed this aircraft. Another report from German Air Base Headquarters at Echterdingen (air base just south of Stuttgart proper) recorded the finding of three crewmen who had perished, burned and still inside the plane's wreckage. A final German report gave summary details on the enemy capture of Sgt. Strickler in the area of the crash site, and that this prisoner was detained in Rottweil at a "PW" Hospital.
BURIAL RECORDS: The 'Report of Captured Aircraft' rendered by the German air headquarters at Echterdingen also reported the burial of the (9) deceased crewmen on 21 March 1944 in the Cemetery of Hardt, near Schramberg. However, a comprehensive investigation after the war by the 7887 Graves Registration Detachment revealed that this initial burial information was incorrect. The nine men in the Books crew were actually buried in the cemetery in Locherhof, Germany.
The "OLD GLORY" crew
1st/Lt. Dallas O. Books Pilot KIA
2nd/Lt. Harry E. Gray Co Pilot KIA
Capt. John E. Slowik Navigator KIA
T/Sgt. Everette N. Morris Engineer KIA
T/Sgt. George E. Slack Radio Op. KIA
S/Sgt. Daniel C. Jones Gunner KIA
S/Sgt. Chester C. Strickler Gunner POW
S/Sgt. Clifford T. Porter Gunner KIA
S/Sgt. Robert Glenn Hampton Gunner KIA
S/Sgt. Norman K. Willig Gunner KIA
Gunner S/Sgt. Daniel C. Jones KIA
Hometown: Youngstown, Ohio
Squadron: 579th BS 392th Bomb Group
Service #15016719
Awards: Purple Heart
Pilot 1st/Lt. Dallas O. Books KIA
Target: Helmstedt Germany
MISSING AIRCREW REPORT: #03319
Date Lost: 20-Feb-44
Serial Number: #41-28742
Aircraft Model B-24
Aircraft Letter: "A-Bar"
Aircraft Name: "OLD GLORY" 1st Mission
Location:Hardt near Schramberg County Rottweil Germany
Cause: German fighters Crew of 10 9KIA
The mission this day would see the 392nd suffer its heaviest losses, both aircraft and aircrew members, of any individual raid ever flown during its combat experience in World War II. Before the mission was completed, (14) aircraft and crews would be lost and (9) other ships damaged by fighters and flak, all totaling (154) casualties. General briefing for (28) aircrews was conducted between 0400-0530 hours.
MISSION LOSS CIRCUMSTANCES: Accounts of this aircrew's loss were very limited. Major Keilman, Acting Command Pilot and 579th Squadron Commander in the Group lead ship for this mission, did report that flames were seen on the flight deck of Books' aircraft and when last seen this plane appeared to be under control, flying very low and (8) parachutes were seen. In the hectic aftermath of withdrawal by the Group's surviving aircraft after bombing this target where the entire formation had come under fierce, persistent and heavy enemy fighter attacks, the fates of many individual 392nd planes and crews could not be positively determined at the time. Every aircrew, aircraft and individual crew member in the remaining ships were literally fighting for survival in an all-out effort to repulse the many German fighter firing passes in protecting their own aircraft and the other ships in the Group's formation, particularly as they all began the outbound route home immediately after target.
INDIVIDUAL ACCOUNTS OF CREWMEN FATES: The only survivor of this aircrew's tragic consequences was Staff Sergeant Chester Strickler who was taken as Prisoner-of-War near the plane's crash site. After release from POW status, Sgt. Strickler wrote a lengthy letter to Mrs Morris, a close Family member of the crew's Engineer, Staff Sergeant Morris, who perished in this emergency that mission day. In summary, Sgt Strickler recapped the crew's immediate background as a well-functioning unit and the events of that fateful day: the plane assigned to this aircrew for this mission was a newly acquired B-24 by the 392nd and was flying its first sortie with the Group. The Books' crew promptly nicknamed the new plane, "OLD GLORY", just before they took off, and this mission was the 8th one for the entire crew. He related they were shot down about (80) miles northwest of Fredrichshafen on the return route and the time was around 3:15pm when the ship blew up. He recalled this time very well just after he hit the ground. No other details in this account dealt directly with the crew's emergency leading up to the final crash. German Report #KU1254, and dated 21 March 1944, gave the general findings about the crashed plane and crewmember status. The final crash site was recorded as being (1500) meters northwest of the Community of Hardt, near Schramberg, County of Rottweil, Germany (Black Forest area), and occurring at 1510 hours. It further noted that (9) bodies had been recovered at the scene, (3) of which were not identifiable due to severe burns. A tenth crewmember had been captured which accounted for all (10) men. The deceased members identified were Books; Morris; Hampton; Gray; Slack and Porter. (The unidentified bodies were those of Slowik, Jones and Willig as later determined inasmuch as Strickler was the captured crew member). This German Report also noted that it had been 'ascertained' that a fighter had downed this aircraft. Another report from German Air Base Headquarters at Echterdingen (air base just south of Stuttgart proper) recorded the finding of three crewmen who had perished, burned and still inside the plane's wreckage. A final German report gave summary details on the enemy capture of Sgt. Strickler in the area of the crash site, and that this prisoner was detained in Rottweil at a "PW" Hospital.
BURIAL RECORDS: The 'Report of Captured Aircraft' rendered by the German air headquarters at Echterdingen also reported the burial of the (9) deceased crewmen on 21 March 1944 in the Cemetery of Hardt, near Schramberg. However, a comprehensive investigation after the war by the 7887 Graves Registration Detachment revealed that this initial burial information was incorrect. The nine men in the Books crew were actually buried in the cemetery in Locherhof, Germany.
The "OLD GLORY" crew
1st/Lt. Dallas O. Books Pilot KIA
2nd/Lt. Harry E. Gray Co Pilot KIA
Capt. John E. Slowik Navigator KIA
T/Sgt. Everette N. Morris Engineer KIA
T/Sgt. George E. Slack Radio Op. KIA
S/Sgt. Daniel C. Jones Gunner KIA
S/Sgt. Chester C. Strickler Gunner POW
S/Sgt. Clifford T. Porter Gunner KIA
S/Sgt. Robert Glenn Hampton Gunner KIA
S/Sgt. Norman K. Willig Gunner KIA
A son of Daniel & Florence (Hangartner) Jones, Daniel Jones Jr. was born in Du Bois, Penn. He and his family moved to Youngstown, Ohio when he was in his early teens. He left Youngstown High School to enter the service on Jan. 17, 1941 and went over seas in Nov. 1943. He had completed eight flight missions prior to the ill fated assignment that claimed his life.
Gunner S/Sgt. Daniel C. Jones KIA
Hometown: Youngstown, Ohio
Squadron: 579th BS 392th Bomb Group
Service #15016719
Awards: Purple Heart
Pilot 1st/Lt. Dallas O. Books KIA
Target: Helmstedt Germany
MISSING AIRCREW REPORT: #03319
Date Lost: 20-Feb-44
Serial Number: #41-28742
Aircraft Model B-24
Aircraft Letter: "A-Bar"
Aircraft Name: "OLD GLORY" 1st Mission
Location:Hardt near Schramberg County Rottweil Germany
Cause: German fighters Crew of 10 9KIA
The mission this day would see the 392nd suffer its heaviest losses, both aircraft and aircrew members, of any individual raid ever flown during its combat experience in World War II. Before the mission was completed, (14) aircraft and crews would be lost and (9) other ships damaged by fighters and flak, all totaling (154) casualties. General briefing for (28) aircrews was conducted between 0400-0530 hours.
MISSION LOSS CIRCUMSTANCES: Accounts of this aircrew's loss were very limited. Major Keilman, Acting Command Pilot and 579th Squadron Commander in the Group lead ship for this mission, did report that flames were seen on the flight deck of Books' aircraft and when last seen this plane appeared to be under control, flying very low and (8) parachutes were seen. In the hectic aftermath of withdrawal by the Group's surviving aircraft after bombing this target where the entire formation had come under fierce, persistent and heavy enemy fighter attacks, the fates of many individual 392nd planes and crews could not be positively determined at the time. Every aircrew, aircraft and individual crew member in the remaining ships were literally fighting for survival in an all-out effort to repulse the many German fighter firing passes in protecting their own aircraft and the other ships in the Group's formation, particularly as they all began the outbound route home immediately after target.
INDIVIDUAL ACCOUNTS OF CREWMEN FATES: The only survivor of this aircrew's tragic consequences was Staff Sergeant Chester Strickler who was taken as Prisoner-of-War near the plane's crash site. After release from POW status, Sgt. Strickler wrote a lengthy letter to Mrs Morris, a close Family member of the crew's Engineer, Staff Sergeant Morris, who perished in this emergency that mission day. In summary, Sgt Strickler recapped the crew's immediate background as a well-functioning unit and the events of that fateful day: the plane assigned to this aircrew for this mission was a newly acquired B-24 by the 392nd and was flying its first sortie with the Group. The Books' crew promptly nicknamed the new plane, "OLD GLORY", just before they took off, and this mission was the 8th one for the entire crew. He related they were shot down about (80) miles northwest of Fredrichshafen on the return route and the time was around 3:15pm when the ship blew up. He recalled this time very well just after he hit the ground. No other details in this account dealt directly with the crew's emergency leading up to the final crash. German Report #KU1254, and dated 21 March 1944, gave the general findings about the crashed plane and crewmember status. The final crash site was recorded as being (1500) meters northwest of the Community of Hardt, near Schramberg, County of Rottweil, Germany (Black Forest area), and occurring at 1510 hours. It further noted that (9) bodies had been recovered at the scene, (3) of which were not identifiable due to severe burns. A tenth crewmember had been captured which accounted for all (10) men. The deceased members identified were Books; Morris; Hampton; Gray; Slack and Porter. (The unidentified bodies were those of Slowik, Jones and Willig as later determined inasmuch as Strickler was the captured crew member). This German Report also noted that it had been 'ascertained' that a fighter had downed this aircraft. Another report from German Air Base Headquarters at Echterdingen (air base just south of Stuttgart proper) recorded the finding of three crewmen who had perished, burned and still inside the plane's wreckage. A final German report gave summary details on the enemy capture of Sgt. Strickler in the area of the crash site, and that this prisoner was detained in Rottweil at a "PW" Hospital.
BURIAL RECORDS: The 'Report of Captured Aircraft' rendered by the German air headquarters at Echterdingen also reported the burial of the (9) deceased crewmen on 21 March 1944 in the Cemetery of Hardt, near Schramberg. However, a comprehensive investigation after the war by the 7887 Graves Registration Detachment revealed that this initial burial information was incorrect. The nine men in the Books crew were actually buried in the cemetery in Locherhof, Germany.
The "OLD GLORY" crew
1st/Lt. Dallas O. Books Pilot KIA
2nd/Lt. Harry E. Gray Co Pilot KIA
Capt. John E. Slowik Navigator KIA
T/Sgt. Everette N. Morris Engineer KIA
T/Sgt. George E. Slack Radio Op. KIA
S/Sgt. Daniel C. Jones Gunner KIA
S/Sgt. Chester C. Strickler Gunner POW
S/Sgt. Clifford T. Porter Gunner KIA
S/Sgt. Robert Glenn Hampton Gunner KIA
S/Sgt. Norman K. Willig Gunner KIA
Gunner S/Sgt. Daniel C. Jones KIA
Hometown: Youngstown, Ohio
Squadron: 579th BS 392th Bomb Group
Service #15016719
Awards: Purple Heart
Pilot 1st/Lt. Dallas O. Books KIA
Target: Helmstedt Germany
MISSING AIRCREW REPORT: #03319
Date Lost: 20-Feb-44
Serial Number: #41-28742
Aircraft Model B-24
Aircraft Letter: "A-Bar"
Aircraft Name: "OLD GLORY" 1st Mission
Location:Hardt near Schramberg County Rottweil Germany
Cause: German fighters Crew of 10 9KIA
The mission this day would see the 392nd suffer its heaviest losses, both aircraft and aircrew members, of any individual raid ever flown during its combat experience in World War II. Before the mission was completed, (14) aircraft and crews would be lost and (9) other ships damaged by fighters and flak, all totaling (154) casualties. General briefing for (28) aircrews was conducted between 0400-0530 hours.
MISSION LOSS CIRCUMSTANCES: Accounts of this aircrew's loss were very limited. Major Keilman, Acting Command Pilot and 579th Squadron Commander in the Group lead ship for this mission, did report that flames were seen on the flight deck of Books' aircraft and when last seen this plane appeared to be under control, flying very low and (8) parachutes were seen. In the hectic aftermath of withdrawal by the Group's surviving aircraft after bombing this target where the entire formation had come under fierce, persistent and heavy enemy fighter attacks, the fates of many individual 392nd planes and crews could not be positively determined at the time. Every aircrew, aircraft and individual crew member in the remaining ships were literally fighting for survival in an all-out effort to repulse the many German fighter firing passes in protecting their own aircraft and the other ships in the Group's formation, particularly as they all began the outbound route home immediately after target.
INDIVIDUAL ACCOUNTS OF CREWMEN FATES: The only survivor of this aircrew's tragic consequences was Staff Sergeant Chester Strickler who was taken as Prisoner-of-War near the plane's crash site. After release from POW status, Sgt. Strickler wrote a lengthy letter to Mrs Morris, a close Family member of the crew's Engineer, Staff Sergeant Morris, who perished in this emergency that mission day. In summary, Sgt Strickler recapped the crew's immediate background as a well-functioning unit and the events of that fateful day: the plane assigned to this aircrew for this mission was a newly acquired B-24 by the 392nd and was flying its first sortie with the Group. The Books' crew promptly nicknamed the new plane, "OLD GLORY", just before they took off, and this mission was the 8th one for the entire crew. He related they were shot down about (80) miles northwest of Fredrichshafen on the return route and the time was around 3:15pm when the ship blew up. He recalled this time very well just after he hit the ground. No other details in this account dealt directly with the crew's emergency leading up to the final crash. German Report #KU1254, and dated 21 March 1944, gave the general findings about the crashed plane and crewmember status. The final crash site was recorded as being (1500) meters northwest of the Community of Hardt, near Schramberg, County of Rottweil, Germany (Black Forest area), and occurring at 1510 hours. It further noted that (9) bodies had been recovered at the scene, (3) of which were not identifiable due to severe burns. A tenth crewmember had been captured which accounted for all (10) men. The deceased members identified were Books; Morris; Hampton; Gray; Slack and Porter. (The unidentified bodies were those of Slowik, Jones and Willig as later determined inasmuch as Strickler was the captured crew member). This German Report also noted that it had been 'ascertained' that a fighter had downed this aircraft. Another report from German Air Base Headquarters at Echterdingen (air base just south of Stuttgart proper) recorded the finding of three crewmen who had perished, burned and still inside the plane's wreckage. A final German report gave summary details on the enemy capture of Sgt. Strickler in the area of the crash site, and that this prisoner was detained in Rottweil at a "PW" Hospital.
BURIAL RECORDS: The 'Report of Captured Aircraft' rendered by the German air headquarters at Echterdingen also reported the burial of the (9) deceased crewmen on 21 March 1944 in the Cemetery of Hardt, near Schramberg. However, a comprehensive investigation after the war by the 7887 Graves Registration Detachment revealed that this initial burial information was incorrect. The nine men in the Books crew were actually buried in the cemetery in Locherhof, Germany.
The "OLD GLORY" crew
1st/Lt. Dallas O. Books Pilot KIA
2nd/Lt. Harry E. Gray Co Pilot KIA
Capt. John E. Slowik Navigator KIA
T/Sgt. Everette N. Morris Engineer KIA
T/Sgt. George E. Slack Radio Op. KIA
S/Sgt. Daniel C. Jones Gunner KIA
S/Sgt. Chester C. Strickler Gunner POW
S/Sgt. Clifford T. Porter Gunner KIA
S/Sgt. Robert Glenn Hampton Gunner KIA
S/Sgt. Norman K. Willig Gunner KIA
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