Daniel H. Appleton was born on April 20, 1916, in Minnesota. He was the son of Hugh Appleton and Bessie Josephine Brown Appleton. He was married to Suzette Jeanne Smith Goodermote. He served in the 700th Bomb Squadron, 445th Bomb Group, Heavy, as a Second Lieutenant and Bombardier of B-24H #42-95128 nicknamed 'Bonnie Vee' during World War II.

On September 27, 1944, Bonnie Vee took part in the 445th Bombardment Group’s mission from RAF Tibenham, England, targeting the Henschel industrial works at Kassel, Germany. Due to navigational error under heavy cloud cover, the 445th strayed from the main bomber stream and lost its fighter escort, bombing near Göttingen instead of the intended target. Isolated from the larger formation, the group was attacked by a large force of German fighters, including heavily armed Fw 190s. During the intense engagement, Bonnie Vee was shot down near Richelsdorf, Germany.

2Lt Appleton was killed in Action in the incident, and he is now buried in the Lorraine American Cemetery and Memorial, Saint-Avold, Département de la Moselle, Lorraine, France.

Source of information: www.findagrave.com, https://www.bonnievee.com/