World War II Honoree
World War II Veteran
Edwin L. Nelson
Branch of Service
U.S. Army Air Force
Hometown
Council Grove, Kansas
Honored By
A Grateful American
HE GRADUATED FROM THE AVIATION NAVIGATION SCHOOL, HE BECAME A NAVIGATOR INSTRUCTOR FIRST AT ELLINGTON FIELD IN HOUSTON, TEXAS AND THEN AT HONDO AIR FIELD IN HONDO, TEXAS. HE JOINED THE 315TH BOMB WING ON GUAM AS A NAVIGATOR ON A BOEING B-29 BOMBER. HE FLEW MISSIONS FROM GUAM TWO TARGETS IN JAPAN EVERY OTHER DAY. IN THAT ROLE HE FLEW THE LONGEST MISSION OF WWII, 18 1/2 HOURS ROUND TRIP, AND ALSO FLEW THE VERY LAST MISSION OF WWII. WHILE RETURNING TO GUAM FROM THAT FINAL MISSION TO JAPAN THE CREW RECEIVED WORD OF THE JAPANESE SURRENDER.