World War II Honoree

Henry M. Nelson

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

New Jersey

Honored By

Hugh Dow

Relationship

Group Comrade

1ST LIEUTENANT FIGHTER PILOT. FLEW SPITFIRES IN ENGLAND IN THE SUMMER OF 1942 WITH THE U.S. ARMY AIR FORCE 52ND FIGHTER GROUP. TRANSFERRED TO THE 345TH SQUADRON OF THE 350TH FIGHTER GROUP ON ITS ACTIVATION IN ENGLAND ON OCTOBER 1, 1942. RECHECKED IN THE P-39 AIRACOBRA WHICH HE HAD FLOWN IN THE UNITED STATES, IN PREPARATION FOR DUTY WITH THE 12TH AIR FORCE IN NORTH AFRICA, FOLLOWING THE INVASION THERE. ON FEBRUARY 5, 1943 AS PART OF A FIVE SHIP FORMATION HE SET OUT ON A LOW ALTITUDE, SIX TO SEVEN HOUR MAX RANGE FLIGHT IN A P-39-400 DOWN THE ATLANTIC OCEAN TO FRENCH MOROCCO. EN-ROUTE, HIS FORMATION ENCOUNTERED A SEVERE WEATHER FRONT THAT CAUSED THE FLIGHT TO BREAK UP OVER THE BAY OF BISCAY. SOMETIME LATER, ALONE, AT SLOW CRUISE SPEED, HE WAS INTERCEPTED BY A JU-88 FIGHTER OF KG/40, DEPLOYED ALONG THE COAST OF FRANCE TO INTERCEPT AND DESTROY ALLIED AIR TRAFFIC BETWEEN ENGLAND AND AFRICA, AND WAS SHOT DOWN. TWO OTHER PILOTS ON THE FLIGHT CRASH LANDED IN NEUTRAL COUNTRIES WHILE TWO MADE IT TO AFRICA. LIEUTENANT NELSON WAS THE FIRST COMBAT CASUALTY OF THE 350TH FIGHTER GROUP IN WORLD WAR II.