Service during the War
Edward G Dana joined the USAAF in 1944. As with many, he went in with the promise of becoming a pilot, only to be sent to gunnery school instead. He trained in Aurora, Co, where he also earned the Golden Gloves for boxing. He began his service to the 401st in October of 1944 and saw his first combat mission on 21 Nov, 1944, and his last on 21 March, 1945. He flew 36 missions in all and suffered no injuries, even after one of the aircraft he served on, the Hard Seventeen, crashed near Grimbergen, Belgium. After he finished his last combat mission, he stayed on as a flak gunner until the end of the War in Europe.
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Recorded Missions
Life before the War
Edward was born in Scottsdale, Arizona, on August 8th, 1923, and grew up in Mesa, AZ. Like many of the Greatest Generation, his family struggled to live on their farm during the Great Depression. After his father died when he was aged 16, he worked hard to pay off the debt his father left behind. He worked at the Rainbow Baking Company until he entered military service at age 21.
Life after the War
After the war, Edward returned to his job at the Bakery, met the love of his life, Noveda Elizabeth Smith, and they were married in 1946. He worked hard, raised a
family of 5 children and retired in 1986. He enjoyed a good retirement and, in 1994, a renewed association with the 401st BG. In 1999, his wife was diagnosed with lymphoma, and he worked hard to see her through it. He, himself, was diagnosed with congestive heart failure in 2003, and endured heart surgery, with his wife by his side, to correct it.
In 2004, while driving her to a doctor's appointment, his wife was killed in a car accident. He was ruled at fault and was emotionally devastated. In order to escape his pain, he returned with the 401st to England in 2005 for what he thought would be the last time. While there, he thought of his crash near Grimbergen and wanted to return there, but couldn't remember exactly where it had occurred. In 2006, he was contacted by a Belgian Aviation Historian, Frans Van Humbeek, with photos and information about the crash.
In 2007, after a week in England, he returned to Grimbergen, where he was given a Hero's Welcome by the People and Town of Grimbergen, local news media, the Belgian Air Force, American Embassy and many Belgians who served during the war or were present at the crash. This did miracles to lift Edward's spirits after the loss of his wife.
He died on February 2, 2013, after 10 years of a weakening heart. He was surrounded by his children, grand-children and great grand-children at his passing. Afterwards, he continued to receive accolades for his service from the City of Grimbergen and others who appreciated his service during the war...
Return to Grimbergen
Edward finally returned with his family to Grimbergen on May 16 of 2007. His day there began by meeting with
Frans Van Humbeek and
Paul Van Caesbroeck at his hotel. Edward and family were first given a tour of
the Grimbergen Basilica and Abbey by Fred de Schouwer. The basilica can be seen in the distance from the crash site. Next, they taken to
the field where the Hard Seventeen had crashed and was interviewed by Frans and Radio 2 Belgium. Later that morning, they were given a tour of
the airfield that the Hard Seventeen was attempting to land at. At the airfield, Edward, with his son and grandson, was given a flight over the crash-site by Louis Bosman.
After lunch, Edward was taken by army and navy jeeps to
the Grimbergen townhall where, unknown to him, were roughly 50 people waiting to thank him for his service. This included local television, U.S. Embassy, Belgian Air Force, the vice-mayor, many who were present at the crash as well as many many well-wishers. There, he was given a plaque from the City by the vice-mayor, allowed to sign a piece of armor from the Hard Seventeen and given a flight-suit temperature regulator from the plane.
They finished their day with dinner and a tour of the
Broken Wings museum, a very unique museum dedicated to the archaeology of fallen aircraft.
Afterwards
As had been noted, Edward had slipped into a deep depression after the loss of his wife. After the events of 2007, his spirits were greatly lifted. This was noticed not just by his family but many others that new him before and after the accident. For this reason, Edward's children remain deeply grateful to the people of Grimbergen for helping their father to pass from this life to the next with a lighter burden than the one he carried in the years that followed her death.