Lt Col Armour G McDaniel

Foil: 9 Panel: 2 Column: 4 Line: 12

Wall of Honor Level:
Air and Space Friend

Honored by:

LT. COL. ARMOUR G. McDANIEL, USAF (Ret)

LIEUTENANT COLONEL ARMOUR G. McDANIEL United States Air Force, Retired, was born on July 9, 1916 in Martinsville, Virginia,

Graduated: Peidmont Christian Institute (High School)
Graduated: Virginia State University, B.S. Bus. Ad.
Temple University, P.A. Economics
Rider College, Princeton, New Jersey, Teacher Qualification
Amour was teaching High School (English, History, Social Science) in his hometown of Martinsville, Virginia when World War II broke out.

He was stationed at Tuskegee Army Air Field (TAAF) and was a cadet who graduated in January 1943.

Armour G. McDaniel was assigned to Selfridge Field in Michigan as an operation officer for the rest of 1943. January, 1944 arrived overseas to Taranto, Italy which was their debarkation point where the men were moved to two northern Italy bases, Naples and Monte Kavino and later to be moved to Ramitelli, Italy, and their mission was changed from close support of Army operations to bomber escort. These well trained, dedicated flying aces protected American bomber planes, as they made their way to their Axis targets. Not a single bomber under their escort was lost to the enemy.

March 24, 1945, Armour G. McDaniel was on his longest mission of World War n. It was also the squadron's first encounter with German jet planes which outmaneuvered American planes by a great margin. McDaniel's plane was in the lead position which is the most vulnerable one to be in. Heading for Berlin, his plane was hit. He bailed out. His first combat jump. Both legs were fractured as he landed. German military picked him up and took him to Nuremburg, later transferred to Munich and ultimately Stalag Luf 7A at Moosburg, Germany, as a prisoner of war. There, he received effective medical attention.

His incarceration was short, about thirty (30) day, because he was rescued by an "outrageous" General , but a courageous one, by the name of George S. Patton.

In 1946, he returned to Tuskegee as Commandant of Cadets.
1947-48 Deputy Commander and Executive Officer of the 332nd FTR (Fighter Group)
1949 Assistant Air Inspector for Continental Air Commander
1950 -51 Wings Inspector for 307 Troop Carrier Wings
1952-54 Deputy Commander, 1500 Air Transport Operations
1955 Director of Air-Sea Rescue Center, Alaska
1956-57 Wings Inspector, McGuire A.F.B.
1958 Inspector General for Eastern Air Transport Command
1959 Director of Material of McGuire A.F.B.
1960 Commander of 1611th Support Squadron

Service Schools attended were:
Tuskegee Army Flying School, 1943
Williams A.F.B. Fighter Gunnery School, 1946
Air Tactical School Squadron Office Course, 1946
Academic Instructors Course, 1949
Field Grade Officer Course, 1953
Resident Officer Course, Air War College, 1961
George Washington University, Personal Management, 1961.

The organizations that he commanded were:
Aviation Cadet Tuskegee, Alabama
Squadron C for Phasing Out (Tuskegee, T.A.A.F.)
332nd Fighter Group, Deputy & Executive Officer
301st Fighter Squadron, Operations Officer and Commander
Deputy Commander, 1150 Air Transport Group
1611 Support Squadron

Pilot Instrument Rating: Command Pilot with green card; over 9,900 total hours.

Staff Assignments:
Assistant-Air Inspector, Continental Air Commander
Inspector General, 374th Troop Carrier Wings
Inspector General, 403rd Troop Carrier Wing Deputy for Material
Inspector General Eastern Transport Air Force

Combat Record:
Downed one German ME
109 vehicles
Destroyed three planes on ground
Destroyed tanks on ground

Decorations are:
Distinguished Flying Cross
Distinguished Merit Badge
European African Middle East Medal
American Service Medal
World War U Occupation from Japan
Korean Service Medal
Purple Heart
Presidential Unit Citation (20-C)
United Nations Service Medal
Republic Korea, Presidential Unit Citation
Air Longevity Medal with 4 Oak Leaf Cluster
Air Force Commendations Medals

Military Notable Experiences were:
1944 - Squadron caught scores of German barges sailing south down the Dannile River enroute to join elements of troops in Austria. Armour G. McDaniel led an attack on these barges, each containing an estimated 250 troops, destroying six of them during these engagements. An anti aircraft shell struck McDaniel's left wing and partially destroyed one machine battery. This very experienced pilot made it back to the base. A picture of the results of this encounter is on display in the National Aerospace Museum in the Smithsonian Institute, as well as the book, "History of the Tuskegee Airmen" and also in Time/Life books.

1957- During the period which Armour G. McDaniel served as Director of Air, Sea and Rescue Operations in Alaska, he had the occasion to fly scientists within 200 miles of the North Pole (geographical) to enable them to study the area in furtherance of the geophysical year, and in addition, the centers paramedical dispatches almost on a daily basis on mercy missions.

Armour G. McDaniel retired from the Air Force in 1964. Against tremendous odds, he and his associates persisted to be granted the opportunity to demonstrate valor and skill as Negro soldiers. They earned the right to stand tall, fly high and bring pride to our country and the human race.

Military Aircraft Flown:
PT-17, BT-13, AT-6, P-40, P-39, P-47, P-51, DC-3, C-47, DC-4, C-54, DC-6,
C-118, C-119, A-26, C-7E, C-46, B-25, BA-16w

After retirement from the military, Armour brought his supervisory and leadership skills to the private sector as: The Executive Director of the Interracial Council of Business Opportunity, Director of Small Business Development Center and Supervisor in the Bureau of Management Services for the Department of Education in New Jersey. "Armour's credo was you must be involved to make a change." Thus came his involvement in a variety of civic and social organizations. As a member, but most often as an officer, Armour lent his leadership and talents to such organizations as Alpha Phi Fraternity, Sertoma (Service to Mankind), where he was third vice president, Member of Tuskegee Airmen's Club. He was instrumental in organizing the Indianapolis, Indiana Chapter of Tuskegee Airmen and thus, became its first president. Member of the World War II Roundtable, the Aero Club, The One Hundred Black Men of America and a member of the Men's League at Witherspoon United Presbyterian Church.

Armour's career and personal interests created a global person who was interested in many lifestyles and cultures that he encountered in his travels around the world. His sense of adventure made him at home at a Bistro in Paris, camping across country or in a Kabuki Theatre in Japan. He was a collector, a gourmet cook, a photographer, cartoonist, and a jack of all trades.

Armour is survived by his wife, Faye Wilson McDaniel; one son, Gregory Wayne McDaniel of Trenton, NJ; (another son, Armour McDaniel, Jr., preceded him in death); one daughter, Gwendolyn Barrington Jackson of East Orange, NJ; three stepsons, Jerome, Kevin and Donald Edmonds; one step daughter, Regina Edmonds Majors; two grand children, Jas Bianca and Consceulo Barrington Jackson; and one sister, Majorie Shields.