World War II Honoree

Ariel W. Nielsen

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Tubac, Arizona

Honored By

Hugh D. Dow

Relationship

Fellow Fighter Group Member

GRADUATED PHI BETA KAPPA FROM STANFORD UNIVERSITY IN 1940 AND BECAME A PILOT IN THE U.S. ARMY AIR CORPS. WENT TO ENGLAND IN SPRING OF 1942 WITH 8TH FIGHTER COMMAND AND AT HIS REQUEST FOR COMBAT DUTY, HELPED ACTIVATE THE 350TH FIGHTER GROUP AS ITS FIRST GROUP OPERATIONS OFFICER ON OCTOBER 1, 1942. WITH 12 HOURS IN AIRCRAFT TYPE, FLEW A P-39 AIRACOBRA 6 HOURS DOWN THE ATLANTIC OCEAN TO NORTH AFRICA IN JANUARY 1943 AND INTO COMBAT IN TUNISIA IN FEBRUARY 1943. FLEW COMBAT MISSIONS IN AIRACOBRA AIRCRAFT FROM CORSICA IN 1944 AND IN P-47 THUNDERBOLTS FROM ITALY IN 1944 AND 1945. BECAME COMMANDING OFFICER OF THE 350TH FIGHTER GROUP IN AFRICA IN SEPTEMBER 1943; SERVED IN THIS CAPACITY UNTIL THE END OF HOSTILITIES IN EUROPE IN MAY 1945. WITH A DEGREE IN NUCLEAR PHYSICS, HE RETURNED TO THE U.S. IN JUNE TO SERVE ON THE WAR DEPARTMENT GENERAL STAFF.