Dawson was born in Kingston, NC. He didn't go by Junior he used II. He completed advance flight training at Luke Field, Arizona as part of Class 42-G, graduated on July 26, 1942. While flying a training mission on December 4, 1943 he suffered a force landing due to mechanical difficulties piloting P-38H "Japanese Sandman II" 42-66905.
He earned the Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal (for missions between February 5 - August 26, 1943 totalling more than one hundered hours) and SWPA and American Defense ribbons. After his tour of duty in the South Pacific, he was sent back to the United States for Rosecrans Field of the Air Transport Command for advanced pilot training.
Married on July 6, 1945 to Anna. He retired from the USAF as a Major, went on to get a PhD and was a Econ Professor and rancher. He passed away in 1995. His Childen are: Anita Armold, Danielle Neal, Kari Dawson-Ekeland and Dolphus R. Dawson III."
