Daniel Jo Dale was born in December 1923 in Guymon, Texas County, Oklahoma. He was the son of Frederick Hiner Dale and Elizabeth Eliza Neet Dale. He served in the 702nd Bomber Squadron, 445th Bomber Group, Heavy, as a Flight Officer and Navigator of B-24 #42-100331 nicknamed 'Percy' during World War II.

On September 27, 1944, “Percy,” of the 445th Bomb Group, U.S. Eighth Air Force, was lost during the disastrous Kassel mission over Germany. The aircraft launched from Hardstand 30 at RAF Tibenham, England, as part of the 445th formation assigned to bomb the Henschel industrial and armored vehicle works at Kassel.
During the approach to the target, navigational problems caused the 445th Bomb Group to drift away from the main bomber stream and lose its long-range fighter escort. After completing the bombing run and turning for home, the isolated bombers were intercepted by large formations of German fighters, primarily Fw 190s and Bf 109s, over central Germany. The enemy launched repeated close-range attacks that tore through the formation. Percy was among the B-24s destroyed in this fierce aerial battle. The aircraft was shot down over Germany and crashed during the engagement that devastated the group.

FO Dale was Killed in Action and is now buried in the Cambridge American Cemetery and Memorial, Coton, South Cambridgeshire District, Cambridgeshire, England.

Source of information: www.findagrave.com, www.rafb24.com, weremember.abmc.gov