Thomas B Nelson
Military ROLL OF HONOURAssigned to 535BS, 381BG, 8AF USAAF. Bombardier, Kemp crew. Original member of the Baer crew. Failed to Return (FTR) mission #36 to the shipyards at Bremen in B-17 42-3123 'Ron Chee' 8-Oct-43; Shot down, Killed in Action (KIA). MACR 1396
Awards: PH.
Connections
See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.
Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 381st Bomb Group 535th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 11039622 / O-736533
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
Aircraft
![Engineers work to complete the runway, in time for the first B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-3123) nicknamed "Ron Chee" of the 381st Bomb Group to touch down. Image stamped on reverse: 'Planet News.' [stamp], 'Reviewed and passed 21 May 1943.' [stamp] and '265190.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'Photo Shows:- American Engineers completeing the last piece of the aerodrome - as the first "Flying Fortress" bomber arrives on the new field. AND, 21 May 1943. PN-s.' Handwritten caption on reve](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-380067.jpg.webp?itok=RlFf6IZT)
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Ron Chee
- Unit: 381st Bomb Group 535th Bomb Squadron
Missions
- Date: 8 October 1943
Places
- Site type: Cemetery
- Known as: Ardennes American Cemetery, Liege, Belgium
- Site type: Airfield
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Enlisted |
Seattle, WA | 6 January 1942 | Seattle, Washington |
|
Based Killed in Action (KIA) |
Ridgewell | 15 September 1943 - 8 October 1943 | Assigned to 535BS, 381BG, 8AF USAAF. |
|
Other Killed in Action (KIA) |
Fladdderlohausen, Germany | 8 October 1943 | Failed to Return (FTR) mission #36 to the shipyards at Bremen in B-17 42-3123 'Ron Chee' 8-Oct-43; Shot down, Killed in Action (KIA). MACR 1396 |
|
Born |
Ryder, North Dakota, USA | Son of Reinhold Nelson. | |
|
Buried |
Ardennes American Cemetery and Memorial | Ardennes American Cemetery and Memorial Neupre, Belgium Plot C Row 5 Grave 14 |
Revisions
Added some punctuation to the "Summary biography" to aid clarity.
Added birth info to the Born event per Find-a-grave Memorial ID 56360038.
Added a cemetery to the Buried event per Find-a-grave Memorial ID 56360038.
SOURCE: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/56360038/thomas-b-nelson
381st Bomb Group Memorial Association, March 1999; MACR 1396 / Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 1396 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database