Roland Edward Nairn Jr
Military![Staff Sergeant Roland E. "Lefty" Nairn, a togglier and gunner of the 95th Bomb Group at Horham. 17 March 1945. Nairn has written on reverse in a note to Freeman: 'R.E. "Lefty" Nairn.Togglier/ Nose Gunner 336 Sg - 95th BG 13 Wing - 8AF HORHAM, Eng. Taken on, 17 Mar 45, After returning from raid near Berlin, Germany. Roger-The frown on my face can be explained by the fact that I was just back from the above mission. 4 days later my career as a 95 Bg "Uniform[?] Renewal Specialist" was ended when it was hit](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/wysiwyg_x2/public/freeman/media-379265.jpg.webp?itok=GTcaSa2E)
Object Number - FRE 829 - Staff Sergeant Roland E. "Lefty" Nairn, a togglier and gunner of the 95th Bomb Group at Horham. 17 March 1945. Nairn has written on reverse in a note...
Assigned to 336BS, 95BG, 8AF USAAF. Staff Sergeant Roland Nairn flew as a togglier in B-17 bomber crews of the 95th Bomb Group. The job of the togglier was to arm and release the bombs over the intended target on each mission.
Whilst flying his 10th mission, over Handorf, on 21-Mar-45, Nairn was hit by flak, wounding his left arm. Despite his injury, he regained his post and released his bombs at the correct time. He received the Air Medal, Distinguished Flying Cross and the Purple Heart, a medal awarded to those wounded in service. As Nairn was left-handed he felt that the ‘German Intelligence knew everything!’
He was referred to a US Army hospital in Essex before being sent home in May 1945. He boarded the Hospital Ship USAHS Charles A. Stafford at Liverpool docks for what he called the ‘slow and bumpy ride’ back to the United States.
Awards: DFC, AM, PH, WWII Victory, EAME.
Connections
See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.
Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Go Getter
- Unit: 95th Bomb Group 334th Bomb Squadron 335th Bomb Squadron
Missions
- Date: 21 March 1945
- Official Description: Mission 901: Preparatory air operations for the forthcoming (23 Mar) crossing of the lower Rhine River by Allied ground forces begin. 1,408 bombers and 806 fighters, in conjunction with Ninth Air Force and RAF aircraft, attack jet fighter bases; with...
Places
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Born |
Washington, DC | 12 October 1921 | Son of Roland E Sr and Frances Juanita Sweeney Nairn. |
|
Enlisted |
Army Medical Center, District Of Columbia | 17 September 1942 | Army Medical Centre District Of Columbia |
|
Other Discharged USAAF |
19 January 1946 | ||
|
Died |
Silver Spring, MD | 21 April 2004 | |
|
Buried |
Arlington National Cemetery | 5 May 2004 | Arlington National Cemetery Arlington, Virginia Section 54 Site 51 |
|
Other |
Blackmore Park Hospital, near Botesdale, Suffolk | Stayed at 65th General Army Hospital at Blackmore Park, Botesdale following injury over Handorf, March 1945. | |
|
Based |
Horham | Assigned to 336BS, 95BG, 8AF USAAF. |
Revisions
https://www.fold3.com/image/540843659
https://www.fold3.com/record/83799752/rola-d-e-nairn-jr-wwii-army-enlis…
https://www.fold3.com/record/704138397/nairn-rola-d-e-us-wwii-hospital-…
https://www.fold3.com/record/702158994/nairn-rola-d-e-us-wwii-hospital-…
https://www.fold3.com/record/700623816/nairn-rola-d-e-us-wwii-hospital-…
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/14442441/roland-e-nairn
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / http://95thbg.org/95th_db_pages/left_formation_code/gethonoroll.php
-Nairn outlined his service in correspondence to Roger Freeman, this is held with the originals of the associated media. Transcriptions of his correspondence can be found in the captions of associated images.
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / newspaper & Combat Sup
![A memorial to the 95th Bomb Group at Horham. Image by Roland E "Lefty" Nairn of the 95th Bomb Group. Handwritten caption on reverse: '19 Sept 81. 95BG Memorial Dedication, Horham, Eng[land]. By: R.E. "Lefty" Nairn, 95th BG returnee.'](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-408553.jpg.webp?itok=r4N7k8k_)
![Injured Staff Sergeant Roland E. "Lefty" Nairn, a togglier of the 95th Bomb Group, waits to return to the United States aboard Army Hospital ship USAHS CHARLES A. STAFFORD. Nairn has written on reverse: 'R E "Lefty" NAIRN togglier- gunner+armourer. B17-G 336 sqdn 95 BGp- Horham. Wounded March 21, 1945 over Handorf, Germany. Taken as I was being placed aboard the USS STAFFORD[sic], Army Hospital Ship in May 45. Arrived NY City, NY Harbour on Memorial Day 1946[sic]. lt looks like the conveyance I was on was](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-379263.jpg.webp?itok=rTSh20KE)
