World War II Honoree

Byron H. Nelson

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Vinton, Iowa

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

Rank: Staff Sergeant. Inducted into the United States Army January 7, 1943 at Camp Dodge, Iowa. Upon his graduation from recruit training, he was designate to attend the Flight Aviation Training Program. Served as a B-24G Liberator Bomber Nose Gunner, who flew combat mission with the 721st Bomber Squadron, 450th Bomber Group, a subordinate unit of the 15th Army Air Forces. His unit was based at the Manduria Army Airfield, Location: Manduria, Italy. While flying a combat mission from Manduria, to a target area near Varese, Italy his aircraft came under attack, and was shot down by German fighters. Reported missing in action Tuesday, April 25, 1944. In remembrance of the brave, his name is permanently inscribed in the tablets of the missing, memorialized at Netherlands American Cemetery Location: Margraten, Netherlands. This American Patriot received the following decorations posthumously: Air Medal with 6 Oak Leaf Clusters and the Purple Heart. The Air Medal was awarded to the Sergeant for meritorious achievement while participating in aerial flight, and the Purple Heart for his ultimate sacrifice.