Fallen Hero: Staff Sergeant Edward C. Dailey, U.S. Army Air Corps

Staff Sergeant Edward C. Dailey, U.S. Army Air Corps, son of John and Julia Dailey, was born on May 20, 1924. Edward lived with his parents and two sisters at 100 Union Street. Edward attended the Franklin public schools and graduated from Franklin High School in 1942. While at Franklin High, Edward was the captain of the basketball team and was an outstanding athlete in football and baseball as well. 

Edward Dailey entered the army in 1943 and was assigned to the air force where he qualified as an aerial gunner. SSgt Edward Dailey participated in 11 bombing missions before the fatal mission which took his life in 1944. The following details of the mission were sent to Edward’s family, by Maurice J. Beacond, Jr., the pilot of the targeted plane: “Staff Sergeant Edward C. Dailey lost his life while on a bombing mission over Hungary in an attack of German fighter planes who concentrated their attack on the U.S. bomber. The bomber was fatally hit, caught fire from nose to bomb-bays, went into a vertical dive, and exploded. 

Staff Sergeant Edward C. Dailey was 20 years old at the time of his death on August 20, 1944 somewhere over Hungary.

S/Sgt Edward Dailey