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Personal info

Full name
NELSON, Ole Kenneth
Date of birth
8 December 1917
Age
26
Place of birth
Dorset, Hubbard County, Minnesota
Hometown
Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Military service

Service number
10600461
Rank
Technical Sergeant
Function
Radio Operator/Gunner
Unit
524th Bombardment Squadron,
379th Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
22 February 1944
Place of death
Senden, Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
Plot Row Grave
N 22 10

Immediate family

Members
Martin G. Nelson (father)
Wealthy I. (Burd) Nelson (mother)
Olive Nelson (sister)
Martin Nelson (brother)
Charles Nelson (brother)
Fred Nelson (brother)

Plane data

Serial number
42-31028
Data
Type: B-17F
Nickname: Mojo
Destination: Halberstadt, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the aircraft factory
MACR: 2872

More information

T/Sgt Ole K. Nelson was a music teacher.

He first joined the Royal Canadian Air Force in February 1940, after which he joined the Air Corps of the United States Army in 1943. He was sent overseas on 22 February 1944.

The airplane was hit by enemy flak and exploded in the air.

Three crew members were taken prisoner, seven men were killed.

Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Carla Mans, www.abmc.gov, www.fold3.com - MACR, www.archives.gov - WWII Army Enlistment Records, www.ancestry.com - WWII Veterans Interred Overseas / Headstone and Interment Record / Minnesota Birth Index, www.findagrave.com - Des Philippet, Nelson Star Phoenix 27 April 1945

Photo source: www.findagrave.com - Mary Kaye / Sheree Dowdle, Storiesbehindthestars.org