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name
NELSON, Elmer - Date of
birth
7 June 1920 -
Age
24 - Place of
birth
Merced, Merced County, California -
Hometown
Redwood City, San Matteo County, California
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O-768191 -
Rank
First Lieutenant -
Function
Pilot -
Unit
547th Bombardment Squadron,
384th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with 4 Oak Leaf Clusters,
Purple Heart
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
27 December 1944 - Place of
death
Arenberg-Koblenz, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Lorraine
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| E | 9 | 3 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Olof Nelson (father)
Signe W. (Strom) Nelson (mother)
Arthur H. Nelson (brother)
Elsie W. Nelson (sister)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-107083 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Destination: Altenahr, Germany
Mission: Bombing of a railroad bridge
MACR: 11248
More information
The squadron didn't hit the primary target but attacked the secondary target which was the marshalling yards in Koblenz.A flak burst hit behind the ball turret and completely disengaged the tail assembly from the rest of the airplaneplane. After the tail section broke off, the airplane plunged down to earth.
Seven crew members were killed, two men were taken prisoner.
Source of information: André Koch, Raf Dyckmans www.abmc.gov, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov – WWII Enlistment Record, www.ancestry.com - 1930/1940 Census, Headstone and Interment Record, www.fold3.com - Macr 11248, http://www.8thafhs.com
Photo source: -