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Personal info

Full name
NELSON, Edward Franklin Jr
Date of birth
13 October 1916
Age
26
Place of birth
Orange, Essex County, New Jersey
Hometown
West Orange, Essex County, New Jersey

Military service

Service number
O-680684
Rank
Second Lieutenant
Function
Co-Pilot
Unit
331st Bombardment Squadron,
94th Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
27 September 1943
Place of death
In the vicinity of Norden, north of Emden, Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
Plot Row Grave
C 5 1

Immediate family

Members
Edward F. Nelson Sr. (father)
Aula Nelson (mother)
Ruth H. Nelson (sister)
Richard A. Nelson (brother)
Aula J. Nelson (sister)
Margaret E. Nelson (wife)

Plane data

Serial number
42-5888
Data
Type: B-17F
Nickname: Elusive Elcy
Destination: Emden, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the port area
MACR: 732

More information

2nd Lt Edward F. Nelson Jr. attended college was a routeman. He volunteered for the Air Corps of the Army of the United States in Newark, New Jersey on 2 April 1942.

The aircraft was attacked by enemy fighters and was last seen on fire, losing altitude, going down. It's left wing then came off and it exploded. Two men were seen to come out of the ship, but only one with a parachute.

Lt Nelson was initially buried at the cemetery of Wittmund, Germany on 28 September 1943.

Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Carla Mans, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.fold3.com, www.ancestry.com - 1930 Census / U.S. WW Draft Cards Young Men

Photo source: www.wwiimemorial.com, Peter Schouteten, Arie-Jan van Hees, Pilot Class Book 43-E Blackland, Texas