Leif Henrik Nelson

Military

Assigned to 524BS, 379BG, 8AF USAAF. 29 x combat missions. ETD. Later served with the 2nd Infantry Division earning the Combat Infantryman Badge.





Awards: DFC, AM (3 OLC), WWII Victory, EAME.



Post war: Served in Korean and Vietnamese conflicts.

Connections

See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.

Units served with

The insignia of the 379th Bomb Group.

379th Bomb Group

  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

John Anton Sanda

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 379th Bomb Group 524th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 20345931 / O-802191
  • Highest Rank: Captain
  • Role/Job: Pilot / S-3 Officer

Aircraft

42-29718

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: The widow maker
A crashed B-17 Flying Fortress (WA-K, serial number 42-31021) of the 524th Bomb Squadron, 379th Bomb Group, at Overland Farm, Kent, 2 February 1944. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'P253. B-17, 231021, WA:K, C/L Overland Farm, Kent, 2nd Feb 1944. ICM 80099AC.'

42-31021

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Whirlaway
  • Unit: 379th Bomb Group 524th Bomb Squadron

42-31085

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Anita Marie / Mehitabel
  • Unit: 379th Bomb Group 525th Bomb Squadron
Ground personnel of the 379th Bomb Group work on a B-17 Flying Fortress (FR-H, serial number 42-38111) nicknamed "Mairzy Doats", April 1944. Image via Edmund H Lutz, 379th Bomb Group. Written on slide casing: 'April 1944, my patched up B-17 "Mairzy Doats" on hardstand.'

42-38111

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Unit: 379th Bomb Group 525th Bomb Squadron

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Nantucket, MA 9 December 1923

Enlisted

Hartford, CT 27 October 1942 Hartford, Connecticut

Died

Taunton, MA 13 February 2012

Buried

Massachusetts National Cemetery Bourne, Barnstable County, MA 15 February 2012 Massachusetts National Cemetery Bourne, Barnstable County, MA

Based

Kimbolton Assigned to 524BS, 379BG, 8AF USAAF.
Noank, CT

Revisions

Date
ContributorAl_Skiff
Changes
Sources

https://www.fold3.com/record/83430384-leif-h-nelson
https://www.fold3.com/record/286661917-leif-h-nelson
https://www.fold3.com/image/606680101?terms=henrik,nelson,leif
http://8thairforce.com/members/missionsflownby.asp?perIdentification=51…
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/109919960/leif-henrik-nelson