World War II Honoree

Nelton D. Patterson

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Memphis, Tennessee

Honored By

Dorothy

Relationship

Wife

ENLISTED IN THE ARMY AIR CORPS ON JANUARY 9, 1942 AND REPORTED FOR DUTY ON OCTOBER 27, 1942. RECEIVED BASIC AND ADVANCED TRAINING, COURSES PERTAINING TO FLIGHT TRAINING INCLUDING MAPS, MATHEMATICS, AIRCRAFT RECOGNITION AND TRANSITION TRAINING BEFORE RECEIVING HIS COMMISSION ON JULY 28, 1943. AFTER ADDITIONAL TRAINING, SENT TO EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS AND ASSIGNED FOR DUTY AS A B-17 PILOT IN THE 384TH BOMB GROUP, 8TH U.S. AIR FORCE. FLEW 16 COMBAT MISSIONS OVER COLOGNE (TWICE), STERKRADE, LUDWIGSHAVEN, BERLIN, DRESDEN, MUNSTER, PLAEN, HAGEN, ULM, SCHERTE, BREMEN, INGLESTADT, FREHIAN, ROYAN AND REGENSBERG. DURING THIS TIME, HE WAS SERVING AS GROUP TRAINING OFFICER AND ASSISTANT GROUP OPERATIONS OFFICER WHERE HE CONDUCTED PREPARATION FOR NEXT DAYS FLIGHTS AND BRIEFED CREWS ON WEATHER, TARGETS AND INTELLIGENCE MATTERS. AFTER HOSTILITIES CEASED, HE WAS PLACED ON GREEN PROJECT. THE MISSION WAS TO SET UP AN AIRLINE AND SERVE IN EUROPE AND NORTH AFRICA. ARMOR AND ARMS WERE TAKEN OUT OF BOMBERS AND PLYWOOD SEATS WERE PUT IN TO ACCOMMODATE 45 PASSENGERS. THE OBJECT WAS TO MOVE ABOUT 300 TROOPS FROM ISTRES TO CASABLANCA EACH DAY. AIR TRANSPORT COMMAND PLANES PICKED THEM UP AND FLEW THEM TO THE CONTINENTAL U.S. FOR FURTHER PERSONNEL PROCESSING. THE RETURN FLIGHT TO ISTRES BROUGHT FRENCH SOLDIERS AND CIVILIANS TO FRANCE. PROJECT GREEN WAS NOT COMPLETED WHEN HE BOARDED THE DUTCH LINER, BLOOM FONTAINE FOR CONTINENTAL U.S. AND TRAIN TO CAMP SHELBY FOR SEPARATION FROM THE SERVICE. PLACED IN THE INACTIVE RESERVE.