Daniel James was born on February 11, 1920, in Pensacola, Florida. He attended the Tuskegee Institute from September 1937 to March 1942, receiving a bachelor's degree before staying on at Tuskegee to complete his civilian pilot training under the Civilian Pilot Training Program in January 1943. He then enlisted in the Aviation Cadet Program of the U.S. Army Air Forces on January 18, 1943, receiving his commission as a 2d Lt and pilot wings at Tuskegee Army Airfield, Alabama, on July 28, 1943. After completing P-40 Warhawk training and then B-25 Mitchell training, Lt James served as a B-25 pilot with the 617th Bomb Squadron of the 477th Bomb Group at Godman Field, Kentucky, and then at Lockbourne Army Airfield, Ohio, from January 1944 to June 1947. Capt James next served as a P-47 Thunderbolt pilot with the 301st Fighter Squadron at Lockbourne AFB from July 1947 to October 1948, and then served as on the staff of the 332nd Air Base Group at Lockbourne from November 1948 to September 1949. His next assignment was as an F-51 Mustang and F-80 Shooting Star pilot with the 12th Fighter Squadron in the Philippines from October 1949 to June 1950, followed by combat service in Korea where he flew 101 combat missions with the 67th Fighter Bomber Squadron, 12th Fighter Bomber Squadron, and 44th Fighter Bomber Squadron from July 1950 to March 1951. Capt James served as an F-86 Sabre and F-89 Scorpion pilot with the 27th Fighter Interceptor Squadron at Griffiss AFB, New York, and then the 58th Fighter Interceptor Squadron at Otis AFB, Massachusetts, from May 1951 to March 1953. His next assignment was as commander of the 437th Fighter Interceptor Squadron and then the 60th Fighter Interceptor Squadron at Otis AFB from April 1953 to June 1956, followed by service as a Special Project Officer with the 33rd Fighter Group at Otis from July to August 1956. Col James attended Air Command and Staff School at Maxwell AFB, Alabama, from September 1956 to June 1957, and then served on the staff at Headquarters U.S. Air Force in the Pentagon from July 1957 to June 1960. His next assignment was on the staff of the 81st Tactical Fighter Wing at RAF Bentwaters, England, from July 1960 to January 1962, followed by service as commander of the 92nd Tactical Fighter Squadron at RAF Bentwaters from February to July 1962. Col James served as Deputy Commander for Operations of the 81st Tactical Fighter Wing from July 1962 to August 1964, and then served as Director of Operations Training and Deputy Commander for Operations of the 4453rd Combat Crew Training Wing at Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona, from September 1964 to November 1966. Col James served as Director of Operations of the 8th Tactical Fighter Wing at Ubon Royal Thai AFB, Thailand, from December 1966 to June 1967, and then as Vice Commander of the 8th Tactical Fighter Wing from June to December 1967. During this time, he flew 78 combat missions in Southeast Asia. Gen James next served as Vice Commander of the 33rd Tactical Fighter Wing at Eglin AFB, Florida, from December 1967 to August 1969, and then served as Commander of the 7272nd Flying Training Wing at Wheelus AB, Libya, from September 1969 to March 1970. His next assignment was as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Operations in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs in the Pentagon from March 1970 to April 1973, followed by service as Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs with Headquarters U.S. Air Force in the Pentagon from April 1973 to August 1974. Gen James served as Vice Commander of Military Airlift Command at Scott AFB, Illinois, from September 1974 to August 1975, and then served as Commander-in-Chief of North American Aerospace Defense Command at Ent AFB, Colorado, from September 1975 to December 5, 1977. His final assignment was as special assistant to the Chief of Staff of the Air Force from December 6, 1977, until his retirement from the Air Force on February 1, 1978. Daniel James died shortly after his retirement, on February 25, 1978, and was buried at Arlington National Cemetery. His son, LtGen Daniel James, III, served as Director of the Air National Guard at the Pentagon from 2002 to 2006.