Daniel J Tucker
PROMOTION
Fifteenth Army Air Forces Italy-Daniel J Tucker, 22, son of Samuel Tucker, Beverly Hills Country Club, Newport, was recently promoted to First Lieutenant. Lt. Tucker arrived overseas last August and has flown over 25 missions against the Germans since that time. He is a pilot on a Fifteenth AAF B-24 with a group commanded by Col. Arnold L Schroeder of Glendale, Calif. that has been smashing German held targets throughout occupied Europe since April of this year.
Lt. Tucker enlisted as an air cadet in February 1942 and six months later was called to active duty and started pilot training. He graduated and received his pilot's wings and commission in May 1943. Tucker attended Miami University in Oxford O and the Citadel in Charleston SC. He was employed as a cost accountant for the Albert Picks Hotels Inc. in Cincinnati O. before he entered the service.
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Kentucky Post, Saturday, 29 May 1943, page 1
RECEIVE WINGS-At graduation exercises held recently at the Army Air Forces Gulf Coast Training Station at Randolph Field, Tex. five northern Kentucky youths received commissions as second lieutenants. The five are:\
Lt. Milford A Johanneman, 1547 Madison Avenue and Joseph W Peace, 211 E 17th street, both of Covington; Robert W Bugie, 2103 N Ft Thomas avenue and Erroll S Gates Jr. 21 Avenel place, both of Ft Thomas, and Daniel J Tucker, Beverly Hills Country Club, Newport.
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Kentucky Post, Saturday, 24 March 1945, page 1
CAPTURED IN HUGARY-Shot down over Hungary and captured by a member of the Hungarian border patrol, Lt. Daniel J Tucker, Southgate, "bribed" his way back to his base in the Italian theater of war, but had to part with "my precious gift." His "most precious gift" was a diamond ring presented him by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Sam Tucker, upon his being commissioned a member of the AAF. Mr. Tucker is catering manager of Beverly Hills Country Club, Southgate. The 22 year old pilot of a B-24 bomber related his experience of being shot down in a letter to his mother and dad.
"I was shot up pretty well (my ship, not me) and had to bail out as the bomber was afire and out of control," Lt. Tucker wrote, "We were over Hungary at the time and I was captured by one of the Hungarian border patrol. Thank heavens there was only one of them. I bribed my way into Yugoslavia, but I had to give up my most precious gift, the diamond ring you gave me when I received my wings. It was worth it, as the Parisons got me back to my base in Italy in five days, one day before they would have declared me missing in action."
Lt. Tucker who enlisted in the Air Corps in February 1942 when a student at The Citadel, Charleston SC, but has three more missions on which to fly before he will be eligible for a leave and furlough. "And when I come home, have the milkman leave three gallons of milk at the doorstep every day as I have not had a good cold glass of milk in months." Lt. Tucker suggested to this parents. He has been on overseas duty for the last nine months flying out of the US bomber base in Italy.