Paul M. Daily 429th Fighter Squadron

[Peglar]

Anybody here has Fotos/Informations about:

Paul M. Daily
Second Lieutenant, U.S. Army Air Forces
Service # O-778073
429th Fighter Squadron, 474th Fighter Group

Entered the Service from Louisiana
Died: 25-Mar-45
Buried at: Plot M Row 17 Grave 11
Netherlands American Cemetery
Margraten, Netherlands

Awards: Air Medal, Purple Heart

Thanks !

[Eagle0025]

Hello,
Daily hailed from Jonesboro, LA and as you know, was a pilot with the 429th FS, 474th FG.

Daily's last mission was on 25 Mar 45. It was the fourth mission of the day and it was an armed recce in the familiar area of Wetzlar, Giessen, Frankenburg, and Siegen. The 429th put up 12 P-38s on that mission. Daily was flying Retail Yellow Two position or as wingman to the flight leader of Yellow Flight (Lt. Murdock). Daily was flying P-38J-20-LO, serial no. 44-23522, coded 7Y-H.

Daily was believed to have been hit by flak near Marburg, Germany. His plane caught fire but he stayed with the ship and belly landed it about 3 miles NW of Marburg. He was seen on the ground after jumping out of the burning P-38 with his clothing on fire. He was seen rolling on the ground trying to put the flames out but his clothing continued to burn. Lt. Murdock went down on the deck for a closer look but could only see Daily laying on his back and not moving. It wasn't learned until 11 Apr 45 that Daily had died of his burns in a German hospital in Marburg. His MACR # is 14377.

I have a couple of poor quality photos out of the 429th FS history that show Daily. A friend of mine has the originals that I can get scans of if you want them. Let me know.

Cheers,
Gary Koch
474th FG Group Historian