David E. Daniel Papers
Collection
Identifier: H004-19
Scope and Content
This collection contains photographs, clippings, and a pilot log book that were created and/or collected by David E. Daniel during his military career and his involvement in the Allied invasion of Normandy also known as D-Day. The David E. Daniel Papers are housed in two boxes, totaling 2.2 linear ft.
The collection arrived in fair condition. The archivist identified three series with the first series being the Photographs Series depicting Lt. Col. Daniel and his flag ship crew shortly before and after their mission flight in front of their airplane. Left to right are shown: 1. Chalfant [sic], Harry, Sgt. Crew Chief; 2. Wil, 3. Barney [sic] Blakenship; 4. Col. John M. Donaldsons; 5. Lt. Col. David E. Daniel holding his Scottish terrier puppy in his arms; 6. Groswind [sic]; and 7. Shaldeross [sic].
The second series is the The Birmingham Post and The Birmingham Age-Herald Series containing articles about Daniel's life and him piloting the first plane to lead the Normandy Invasion.
The third series is the Steele's Senior Pilot Log Book Series covering Daniel's flight training at Hicks Field, Texas as well as all his flight missions during World War II. Of particular interest are his entries from June 5, 1944 through June 4, 1945 starting from "Led Invasion of France," through "Sightseeing the invasion coast." The log books contains numerous entries in the "Remarks" section commenting on current events and personal impressions.
The collection arrived in fair condition. The archivist identified three series with the first series being the Photographs Series depicting Lt. Col. Daniel and his flag ship crew shortly before and after their mission flight in front of their airplane. Left to right are shown: 1. Chalfant [sic], Harry, Sgt. Crew Chief; 2. Wil, 3. Barney [sic] Blakenship; 4. Col. John M. Donaldsons; 5. Lt. Col. David E. Daniel holding his Scottish terrier puppy in his arms; 6. Groswind [sic]; and 7. Shaldeross [sic].
The second series is the The Birmingham Post and The Birmingham Age-Herald Series containing articles about Daniel's life and him piloting the first plane to lead the Normandy Invasion.
The third series is the Steele's Senior Pilot Log Book Series covering Daniel's flight training at Hicks Field, Texas as well as all his flight missions during World War II. Of particular interest are his entries from June 5, 1944 through June 4, 1945 starting from "Led Invasion of France," through "Sightseeing the invasion coast." The log books contains numerous entries in the "Remarks" section commenting on current events and personal impressions.
Dates
- 1940 - 1945
- Majority of material found within 1942 - 1944
Language of Materials
Collection is in English.
Access Restrictions
Materials in this collection are open for research.
Literary Rights Statement
Permission to publish material from this collection in any form, current or future, must be obtained from the Special Collections and Archives Division, Eugene McDermott Library, The University of Texas at Dallas.
Biographical Sketch
David Edwin Daniel was born in 1917 to Mr. and Mrs. J. E. Daniel from Birmingham, Alabama. The couple had two sons, one of which, Dr. David E. Daniel, Jr., later served as the fourth President of The University of Texas at Dallas (UTD) from 2005 through 2015. Daniel, Sr. graduated from Ramsay High School and received a degree from Birmingham-Southern College. After college, he worked as a sales representative for the Tennessee Coal, Iron, and Railroad Company.
In 1940, Daniel started his pilot training at Hicks Field at Fort Worth, Texas flying Fairchild PT-19 airplanes. After completing the course in February 1941, he moved on to Randolph Field, Texas training on North American BT-9 Yale airplanes. From May through July, he participated in the Advance Flying School at Kelly Field, Texas, piloting North American AT-6 Texan airplanes. On July 11, 1941, he received his rating as a U.S. Army Pilot. His first flight after flying school was on an AT-6 at Selfridge Field, Michigan. From 1941 through 1944, Daniel was stationed at various US and overseas stations to complete his training mainly on a Douglas DC-3/C-47 Skytrain. On January 24, 1944, he took his “first hop in my new plane- Belle of Birmingham” at Fort Wayne, Florida.
Daniel was the commander of a troop carrier command squadron, which he also trained for the invasion. After a test run on June 5, 1944, the next day, D-Day, he piloted the first flight of the invasion to Normandy, France dropping members of the 502nd Regiment of the 101st Division at Sainte-Mère-Église, France, towing gliders. His plane was hit by enemy fire forty-seven times. In the days following the invasion, Daniel flew resupply and medical evacuation flights. In July 1944, he was reassigned to Italy and Southern France dropping troops and resupplies.
On December 23, 1944, Daniel supported the 101st Division during the Battle of Bastogne with equipment. During the winter of 1944/1945, Daniel flew numerous missions throughout the European Theater and in Africa. On March 24, 1945, he dropped paratroopers across the Rhine and resupplied the American troops in Germany. Almost to the day after the invasion in Normandy, Daniel wrote in his logbook on June 4, 1945 “Sightseeing the invasion coast.”
In 1940, Daniel started his pilot training at Hicks Field at Fort Worth, Texas flying Fairchild PT-19 airplanes. After completing the course in February 1941, he moved on to Randolph Field, Texas training on North American BT-9 Yale airplanes. From May through July, he participated in the Advance Flying School at Kelly Field, Texas, piloting North American AT-6 Texan airplanes. On July 11, 1941, he received his rating as a U.S. Army Pilot. His first flight after flying school was on an AT-6 at Selfridge Field, Michigan. From 1941 through 1944, Daniel was stationed at various US and overseas stations to complete his training mainly on a Douglas DC-3/C-47 Skytrain. On January 24, 1944, he took his “first hop in my new plane- Belle of Birmingham” at Fort Wayne, Florida.
Daniel was the commander of a troop carrier command squadron, which he also trained for the invasion. After a test run on June 5, 1944, the next day, D-Day, he piloted the first flight of the invasion to Normandy, France dropping members of the 502nd Regiment of the 101st Division at Sainte-Mère-Église, France, towing gliders. His plane was hit by enemy fire forty-seven times. In the days following the invasion, Daniel flew resupply and medical evacuation flights. In July 1944, he was reassigned to Italy and Southern France dropping troops and resupplies.
On December 23, 1944, Daniel supported the 101st Division during the Battle of Bastogne with equipment. During the winter of 1944/1945, Daniel flew numerous missions throughout the European Theater and in Africa. On March 24, 1945, he dropped paratroopers across the Rhine and resupplied the American troops in Germany. Almost to the day after the invasion in Normandy, Daniel wrote in his logbook on June 4, 1945 “Sightseeing the invasion coast.”
Sources
- Source
- “David E. Daniel Papers,” “Birmingham Flier Pilots First Invasion Plane,” “The Birmingham Post,” 1944, page 6, Folder 1, Box 1, Series II, History of Aviation Archives, Special Collections and Archives Division, Eugene McDermott Library, The University of Texas at Dallas.
- Source
- “David E. Daniel Papers“, “Allied Invasion Forces Land on French Coast,” “The Birmingham Age-Harald,” vol. 74, no. 73, June 6, 1944, page 1, Folder 1, Box 2, Series II, History of Aviation Archives, Special Collections and Archives Division, Eugene McDermott Library, The University of Texas at Dallas.
- Source
- “David E. Daniel Papers,” Pilot log book, Folder 3, Box 1, Series III, History of Aviation Archives, Special Collections and Archives Division, Eugene McDermott Library, The University of Texas at Dallas.
- Source
- “Dr. David Daniel Named President Emeritus of UT Dallas,” “UTD News Center,” November 16, 2018, https://www.utdallas.edu/news/campus/dr-david-daniel-named-president-emeritus-of-ut-dallas/ , accessed June 27, 2019.
Extent
2.2 Linear Feet (One half-size manuscript box and one non-standard box (25x20x2).)
Abstract
David Edwin Daniel was a fixed wing pilot leading with his airplane the Invasion of Normandy during D-Day on June 6, 1945. His papers reflect his flight training and his missions during World War II.
Series Description
The David E. Daniel Papers are arranged in three series:
Series I. Photographs 0.01 linear ft. (one folder), 1944-06-06.
Arranged by topic.
Series II. “The Birmingham Post“ and “The Birmingham Age-Herald” 2.1 linear ft. (one folder and one non-standard box), 1944-06.
Arranged by topic.
Series III. Steele’s Senior Pilot Log Book 0.04 linear ft. (one folder), 1940 -1945.
Arranged by topic.
Series I. Photographs 0.01 linear ft. (one folder), 1944-06-06.
Arranged by topic.
Series II. “The Birmingham Post“ and “The Birmingham Age-Herald” 2.1 linear ft. (one folder and one non-standard box), 1944-06.
Arranged by topic.
Series III. Steele’s Senior Pilot Log Book 0.04 linear ft. (one folder), 1940 -1945.
Arranged by topic.
Provenance Statement
The David E. Daniel Papers were donated to the History of Aviation Archives, Special Collections and Archives Division, Eugene McDermott Library, The University of Texas at Dallas, by Dr. David E. Daniel, Jr., on 2019-03-21.
Existence and Location of Copies
The entire collection was scanned at 600dpi, TIFF and is preserved in clould storage.
Image ID
It is the researcher's responsibility to secure permission from copyright holders of materials to which this institution does not own copyright.
Images in this collection are identified by a unique number that provides information about the format, record group, collection, series, box, folder, and image numbers. Please use this number when ordering reproductions of images from this collection.
Record Group Code
1 = CAT/Air American Archives
2 = Doolittle Archives
3 = Lighter than Air Archives
4 = George H. Williams, Jr., World War I Aviation Library
5 = History of Aviation Archives
6 = University Archives
7 = HAC Stacks
8 = WPRL Stacks
9 = Cecil H. and Ida M. Green Collection
10 = Belsterling Collection
11 = Closed Stacks
12 = Unidentified
13 = Chance Vought Archives
14 = Twirly Birds Archives
Image Format Code
P = Photograph/Postcard
S = Slide
N = Negative
T = Positive Transparency
B = Black and White
C = Color
Example: 5DED-1-1-PB1
5 = History of Aviation Archives
DED= David E. Daniel Papers
= Series Number
1 = Box Number
1 = Folder Number
P = Photograph/Postcard
B = Black and White
1 = Image Number
Images archived in plastic image holders may also have a location code in the format: 1/TL. In this example, the number is the sheet number and the letters indicate the top left position on the sheet. Position indicators are T = top, L = left, R = right, M = middle, and B = bottom. Position indicators may be combined to describe the position on the sheet, as shown in this example.
Images in this collection are identified by a unique number that provides information about the format, record group, collection, series, box, folder, and image numbers. Please use this number when ordering reproductions of images from this collection.
Record Group Code
1 = CAT/Air American Archives
2 = Doolittle Archives
3 = Lighter than Air Archives
4 = George H. Williams, Jr., World War I Aviation Library
5 = History of Aviation Archives
6 = University Archives
7 = HAC Stacks
8 = WPRL Stacks
9 = Cecil H. and Ida M. Green Collection
10 = Belsterling Collection
11 = Closed Stacks
12 = Unidentified
13 = Chance Vought Archives
14 = Twirly Birds Archives
Image Format Code
P = Photograph/Postcard
S = Slide
N = Negative
T = Positive Transparency
B = Black and White
C = Color
Example: 5DED-1-1-PB1
5 = History of Aviation Archives
DED= David E. Daniel Papers
= Series Number
1 = Box Number
1 = Folder Number
P = Photograph/Postcard
B = Black and White
1 = Image Number
Images archived in plastic image holders may also have a location code in the format: 1/TL. In this example, the number is the sheet number and the letters indicate the top left position on the sheet. Position indicators are T = top, L = left, R = right, M = middle, and B = bottom. Position indicators may be combined to describe the position on the sheet, as shown in this example.
Note to the Researcher
The images are housed in polypropylene sleeves or interleafed with acid-free papers.
- Air pilots
- Air pilots Biography.
- Air pilots United States
- Airacobra (Fighter plane)
- Ardennes, Battle of the, 1944-1945
- Birmingham (Ala.)
- Daniel, David E. (David Edwin), 1949-
- Douglas B-18 (Bomber)
- Douglas DC-3 (Transport plane)
- Fairchild aircraft
- Gliders (Aeronautics)
- History of Aviation Collection
- Kelly Field (Tex.)
- Lockheed aircraft
- Memphis Belle (B-17 bomber)
- North American airplanes (Military aircraft)
- Paramilitary forces
- Randolph Field (Tex.)
- Sainte-Mère-Eglise (France)
- Stearman airplanes
- The University of Texas at Dallas
- United States. Army. Air Corps
- World War, 1939-1945
- World War, 1939-1945 Aerial operations, American.
- World War, 1939-1945 Campaigns France Normandy
- Title
- Guide to the David E. Daniel Papers, 1917-
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Patrizia Nava, CA
- Date
- 2019-06-27
- Description rules
- dacs
- Language of description
- English (eng)
Repository Details
Part of the Special Collections and Archives Division, History of Aviation Archives. Repository
Contact:
3020 Waterview Pkwy
SP2
Suite 11.206
Richardson Texas 75080 US
972-883-2570
972-883-4590 (Fax)
LIBSPCO@utdallas.edu.
3020 Waterview Pkwy
SP2
Suite 11.206
Richardson Texas 75080 US
972-883-2570
972-883-4590 (Fax)
LIBSPCO@utdallas.edu.