World War II Honoree
World War II Veteran
Edward F. Niland
Branch of Service
U.S. Army Air Force
Hometown
Tonawanda, New York
Honored By
Orville L. Kline
RANK: TECHNICAL SERGEANT. SERVED AS A RADIO OPERATOR AND TOP TURRET GUNNER IN A B-25 ‘MITCHELL’ MEDIUM BOMBER IN THE CHINA-BURMA-INDIA THEATER OF OPERATIONS ASSIGNED TO THE 20TH AIR FORCE, 12TH BOMB GROUP, 434TH BOMB SQUADRON. HE WAS CAPTURED MAY 16, 1944 BY THE JAPANESE ARMED FORCES AFTER BAILING OUT OF HIS CRIPPLED BOMBER AND HELD CAPTIVE FOR 12 MONTHS IN THE BURMA #5 (MOULMEIN RANGOON JAIL), BURMA. REPATRIATED BACK TO MILITARY CONTROL ON MAY 2, 1945 AND EVENTUALLY RETURNED TO STATES.