World War II Honoree

Vern E. Nixon

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Cedaredge, Colorado

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

RANK: 2ND LIEUTENANT. SERVED AS A LOCKHEED P-38 ‘LIGHTING’ FIGHTER PILOT ASSIGNED TO THE 27TH FIGHTER SQUADRON, 1ST FIGHTER GROUP, U.S. 15TH AIR FORCE, STATIONED AT VINCENZO AIRFIELD, SALSOLA, ITALY. HE WAS INDUCTED INTO THE ARMY AIR CORPS JULY 8, 1942 AT DENVER, COLORADO AND LATER ACCEPTED INTO THE AVIATION FLIGHT-TRAINING PROGRAM. COMPLETED PRIMARY, BASIC, ADVANCE AND TRANSITION FLIGHT TRAINING PHASES AT LAGUARDIA ARMY AIRFIELD, NEW YORK, MARIANNA AIR FIELD, FLORIDA AND MACON ARMY AIRFIELD, GEORGIA. KILLED IN ACTION SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 1944 WHILE FLYING HIS 51ST COMBAT MISSION OVER BELGRADE, YUGOSLAVIA. AFTER THE CESSATION OF HOSTILITIES IN EUROPE, HIS REMAINS WERE RETURNED TO COLORADO JUNE 18, 1949 FOR BURIAL, WITH INTERMENT IN THE CEDAREDGE CEMETERY, CEDAREDGE, COLORADO.