Honoring the Survivors' Legacy - 70th Anniversary of the Attacks on Oahu

Looking out toward Hangar Avenue and the flight line from courtyard between heavily damaged Wing E and Wing D of the big barracks at Hickam Field, December 7,1941. 

J. DANIEL JONES (Lt. Col. USAF ret.)

Hickam Field Survivor Veteran

Age 91

Lives in Orlando, Florida

• On 7 Dec, assigned to the 4^th Reconnaissance Squadron/5^th Bomb Group (redesignated 394^th Bomb Sq after 7 Dec 1941)
• He arrived in Feb 1940
• SSgt. rank
• Age 21
• On special duty assignment as a technical engineering instructor
• He was a full time student at UH
• On his way to the flight center in the Base Operation Building to meet the in-bound B-17s 
• 100yds from base ops when he saw a formation of planes heading for Hickam
• It was a crystal clear day
• One plane peeled off and  there was a red circle on plane; knew it was Japanese
• He watched that plane (possibly a Val diver bomber) drop a 500lb bomb on the Hawaiian Air Depot (HAD) hangar #35---the first bomb to hit Hickam Field
• He had a .45 cal pistol and fired a few shots
• His thoughts were, “Better to shoot than stand there and do nothing.” 
• Believes he possibly fired the first shots at enemy planes that morning
• Immediately ran back to barracks to wake up and warn his roommates in the barracks building (now PACAF).
• His dorm wing was nearest the base ops bldg. and next to the parade field on second floor—possibly F or G Wing.
• Then went to the hangar to receive a WWI rifle.  It was still covered in Cosmoline!!! and a few ammo clips.
• Also grabbed a 50 cal water-cooled machine gun and set it up in the parade field.
• He had a car to go back and get ammunition for it.
• When he returned, a young boy lay dead over the machine gun and it had no ammunition.
• High altitude bombers (KATES) came overhead dropping bombs at 10,000 ft and he saw the bombs falling and could hear the whistling sounds.
• He quickly hid in the shallow drain along the sidewalk for cover.
• Bombs hit the barracks and  exploded with a great force and then, absolute silent.
• One bomb landed just 20 ft from him and knocked him out for a few minutes.
• Thought he was dead because his body went numb.
• Lost hearing for an hour.
• Only had a slightly injured leg.
• A higher ranking Sgt told him to go to the hospital but once he got there he realized there were too many others with more life-threatening injuries than his.
• Had he done son, he would have been awarded a Purple Heart but he has no regrets.
• Col. Jones is here with his daughter, son-in-law, twin grandsons and a granddaughter
• The twins boys LOVE Air Force aircraft

Compiled by Jessie Higa (re-interviewed Nov 2011)

Photos courtesy of http://hawaii.gov/hawaiiaviation