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name
NELSON, Alexander Duncan Jr - Date of
birth
12 March 1923 -
Age
22 - Place of
birth
Clinton, Washita County, Oklahoma -
Hometown
Aransas Pass, Aransas County, Texas
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O2062532 -
Rank
Second Lieutenant -
Function
Co-Pilot -
Unit
535th Bombardment Squadron,
381st Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
30 March 1945 - Place of
death
Syke, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| D | 25 | 18 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Alexander D. Nelson Sr. (father)
Louise (Ewing) Nelson (mother)
Josephine E. Nelson (sister)
Isabell L. Nelson (sister)
William W. Nelson (brother)
Mildred C. Nelson (wife)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-102590 -
Data
Nickname: In Like Errol
Type: B-17G
Destination: Bremen, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the port area
MACR: 13542
More information
Alexander Nelson joined the Air Corps of the U.S. Army Reserve in San Antonio, Texas on 19 October 1942.After the war, the pilot, 2nd Lt Robert A. Bennett stated that after the bomb run, one engine was knocked out by flak. Dut to this damage, he was unable to keep up with the squadron and lagged slightly behind. They were attacked by an enemy fighter, believed to be a Me-262 which raked the whole left side and exploded #2 engine. This set the airplane on fire. After the hit the airplane also began to lose altitude fast. When he realized that making it to friendly territory was impossible, he gave the order to bail out.
Lt Nelson didn't have the time to bail out.
Seven crew members were taken prisoner, three men were killed.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Terry Hirsch, www.ancestry.com - 1930 Census, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.fold3.com - MACR, WWII Draft Card
Photo source: Peter Schouteten