Daniel Salinas, III was born on May 11, 1921 in Laredo, Texas and died on March 3, 1999 in Laredo. He graduated from Laredo High School in 1940. Salinas had three sisters, Amelia, Berta, and Diana; and two brothers, Rogelio and Cesar.
Daniel Salinas was one of the first Mexican-American pilots in World War II and served from 1942-1945, enlisting in the Army Air Force (AAF) at the age of 21. He began his three phase training program with phase one at San Antonio Aviation Cadet Center (SAACC) in San Antonio, TX. He went on to phase two of the program at Coffeyville Army Airfield in Coffeyville, Kansas where he completed nine weeks of basic pilot training. He then was sent to Aloe Army Air Field at Victoria, Texas to complete his training with advanced single-engine training for fighter pilots. He earned his silver wings on May 23, 1944 and in November of that year he was sent to Italy with his unit, the 22nd Tactical Air Command of the 12th, AAF. Salinas, who had his own plane “Taani,” flew 76 missions and 500 combat hours while stationed in Italy.
After returning, Daniel Salinas married Ana Maria Salinas. They lived in San Antonio between 1945 and 1951. While living in San Antonio he worked as a crop duster, flying out of Randolph, and at Curtis Candy Company. In 1951 Daniel and his wife returned to Laredo where he worked for his uncle at Salinas Department Store before opening his own store, Salinas Variety Store. He also worked as an accountant for three different accounting firms: Laredo Machine and Supply, Poncho Mims, and Mares. He and Ana had six children: Ana Patricia, Norma Gerardina, Leticia Irma, Daniel IV, Guillermo, and Javier.
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The collection spans the years 1937 through 1999 (with the bulk of the materials dating 1943-1945) and documents the military career and personal life of Daniel Salinas. It begins with a yearbook from 1937, the year he graduated from Laredo High School, and it follows with the time he served in the Army Air Forces, 12th Air Force, during World War II, his impending marriage to Ana Maria Salinas, and his career thereafter. The bulk of the material consists of correspondence, both military and non-military, photographs from the time he served in the military, training manuals, government documents, and yearbooks. Other materials include obituary notices, various newspaper clippings, postcards, business transactions, and a Certificate of Baptism.
This collection is housed at UTSA's Main Campus and must be accessed via the John Peace Library Special Collections reading room. To request access, please use the
Permission to publish materials from the collection must be obtained from University of Texas at San Antonio Libraries Special Collections.
[Identification of item], Daniel Salinas Papers, 1937-1999, MS 274, University of Texas at San Antonio Libraries Special Collections.
Received as a gift from Ana M. Salinas in January 2008 (Acc. 2008-006).
Processed by Tatina Wulzer, Collections Assistant, March 2008.
Two books were removed from the collection and transferred to the UTSA Library for possible inclusion in the general library collection or rare books:
This series is primarily comprised of photographs, from the time Salinas served in the military, his training manuals and papers, postcards from San Antonio Aviation Cadet Center (SAACC) training camp, correspondence, and yearbooks.
Arranged chronologically.
This series is primarily comprised of correspondence, a high school yearbook, newspaper clippings, business transactions, a certificate of Baptism, study manuals, obituary notices, and other material.
Arranged chronologically.