12th_AF_Insignia 200px-340th_Bombardment_Group_-_WW_II_Emblem 487th_squadron_insignia1

Mediterranean Theater

12^th AIR FORCE

57^th BOMB WING

340^th BOMB GROUP (M)

487^th BOMB SQUADRON

Dedicated to Alfred James Nelson’s Service

to the Army Air Corps

Rimini, Italy 1945

Career Air Force

Lt. Col. A.J. Nelson

Service record

From submissions by his son Jim Nelson

anmsr213@gmail.com

Photo Credits AJ Nelson unless noted otherwise.

Site Edited and Maintained by Doug Cook

Last Update February 15, 2013

2^nd Lt. Alfred James Nelson

Graduation from flight training

Training Days

Nelson’s Logbook

Crew in Columbia, SC before shipping overseas

COMBAT MISSIONS (340^th BG LINK)

MISSION SHEETS (487th BS LINK)

1ST MISSION ON 10 APRIL 1945, TARGET M 311530 LAVEZZOLA #4 FRONTLINE TROOPS – 12 SHIPS (843) 2:00

Both patterns believed to have crossed eastern half of target area, but accurate observation was difficult due to evasive action. Fires were observed emitting from areas around the buildings. One aircraft was holed as a result from flak encountered.

Pilot – 1st Lt. James B. Fitzgerald

Co-Pilot – Flight Officer 2^nd Lt. Alfred James Nelson

Navigator/Bombardier – Flight Officer George E. Erkilla

Right Gunner – T/Sgt. Pul S. McMillen

Radio Operator/Waist Gunner – S/Sgt. Casimir (nmi) Olszewski

Turret Gunner/Engineer – T/Sgt. Hubert O. Knauff

PLANE SN 43-27478 – 7J “YAHOUDI”

LAVEZZOLA TROOP AREA

2ND MISSION ON 11 APRIL 1945, TARGET F686933 SAN MARGHERITA NORTH RAILROAD BRIDGE –

6 SHIPS (848) 2:30 #6 in last box 3:30 PM THIS BOX WILL FLY WITH THE 489TH BS

Pattern fell on the south side of the san Margherita South bridge.

This bridge was hit due to misidentification of target. Flak was negligible.

Pilot – 1st Lt. Oscar E. Olson Jr.

Co-Pilot – Flight Officer 2^nd Lt. Alfred James Nelson

Navigator/Bombardier – S/Sgt. Francis J. LaPierre

Right Gunner – T/Sgt. Thomas A. Hetzel

Radio Operator/Waist Gunner – S/Sgt. Vernon A. Short

Turret Gunner/Engineer - T/Sgt. Bert M. Gifford

PLANE SN 43-28074 – 7C “ROSIE”

3RD MISSION ON 14 APRIL 1945, TARGET CHUISAFORTE WEST RAILROAD BRIDGE & POSTUMIA RAILROAD BRIDGE – 12 SHIPS (852) 02:40 #2 in last box Italy to Yugoslavia to Austria to Italy to Yugoslavia & home.

The first box bombed the primary target with pattern crossing the west end of the bridge. The second box bombed the alternate target and hit in buildings west of the bridge. No opposition was encountered.

Chiosoforte R.R. Bridge Postumia R.R. Yugoslavia Couldn’t pick up primary bombed alternate in Yugoslavia. Flak free, Milk run

Pilot – 1st Lt. Oscar E. Olson Jr.

Co-Pilot – 2nd Lt. Alfred James Nelson

Navigator/Bombardier – Flight Officer George Chipouras

Right Gunner – T/Sgt. Thomas A. Hetzel

Radio Operator/Waist Gunner – S/Sgt. Edwin E. Mattson

Turret Gunner/Engineer - S/Sgt. James R. Dempsey

PLANE SN 43-4056 – 7T

4th MISSION ON 15 APRIL 1945, TARGET L809368 BOLOGNA TROOPS – PRADURO RESERVE AREA #4 – 12 SHIPS (855) 2:10

Praduro Army troop area – 12 ships. Both boxes were hampered by very heavy ground haze although their pattern landed within the target area. No opposition was met.

Pilot – 2nd Lt. Werner M. Hartman Jr.

Co-Pilot – Flight Officer 2^nd Lt. Alfred James Nelson

Navigator/Bombardier – 2nd Lt. Charles W. Watson

Right Gunner – S/Sgt. Charles F. Fredericks Jr.

Radio Operator/Waist Gunner – S/Sgt. Morgan O. Mattox

Turret Gunner/Engineer - T/Sgt. James W. Austin Jr.

PLANE SN 43-4011 – 7K “EARLY BIRD III”

5th MISSION ON 16 APRIL 1945, TARGET L853511 BOLOGNA WEST RAILROAD BRIDGE – 6 SHIPS (860) 1:40

The first two missions were attacking the Bologna West Railroad Bridge, however, the first element returned due to the weather and the second returned with bombs due to the malfunctioning special equipment which doesn’t seem to be successful with this Squadron.

Pilot - 2nd Lt. Lawson T. Ware

Co-Pilot - 2nd Lt. Alfred James Nelson

Navigator/Bombardier - Flight Officer - Lee R. Weil

Right Gunner – S/Sgt. John W. McCullough

Radio Operator/Waist Gunner – S/Sgt. Edwin E. Mattson

Turret Gunner/Engineer - S/Sgt. Paul T. McCormick

PLANE SN 43-28074 - 7C “ROSIE”

6th MISSION ON 17 APRIL 1945, TARGET L853511 BOLOGNA WEST RAILROAD BRIDGE – 5 SHIPS W/ 9G AS LEAD SHIP. THIS BOX WILL BE LEAD BY THE 489TH. (863) 02:10 Dropped by Shoram, heavy Inaccurate flak.

First mission took off this morning at 7:30 AM to bomb the Bologna West Railroad Bridge. Heavy, scant but inaccurate anti-aircraft fire hampered the twelve ship formation which scored direct hits squarely in the center of the bridge.

Pilot - 2nd Lt. Frederick C. Oldfield

Co-Pilot - 2nd Lt. Alfred James Nelson

Navigator/Bombardier – 2nd Lt. Limwood E. Davis Jr.

Right Gunner – S/Sgt. Edward R. Ritterbusch

Radio Operator/Waist Gunner – S/Sgt. Edwin E. Mattson

Turret Gunner/Engineer - Sgt. Derrold H. Niederkorn

PH - T/Sgt. Thomas A. Hetzel

PLANE SN 43-4011 – 7K “EARLY BIRD III”

7TH MISSION ON 19 APRIL 1945, TARGET M020520 BUDREO SW TROOP DEFENSE AREA – 6 SHIPS (871) 1:45

Six crews were up exceptionally early this morning for a 0745 hours take-off to bomb Budrio Troop Concentrations in Northern Italy. Only inaccurate flak was encountered, but the bombing wasn’t too accurate starting short of target & extending about one-third into the target area. BUDREO TROOP CONCENTRATIONS IN NORTHERN ITALY A914550 ORA MAIN RAILROAD BRIDGE

Pilot – 1st Lt. Lawson T. Ware

Co-Pilot – 2nd Lt. Alfred James Nelson

Bombardier – F/O George E. Erkilla

Right Gunner – S/Sgt. John W. McCullough

Waist Gunner – S/Sgt. Edwin E. Mattson

Turret Gunner – S/Sgt. Paul T. McCormick

PLANE SN 43-4065 – 7X “GI JOE”

8TH MISSION ON 20 APRIL 1945, TARGET F528679 VALORGNE RAILROAD FILL – 6 SHIPS (872) 2:15

First mission of the day took off at 1050 hours to bomb the Valorgne Railroad Fill in Northern Italy. No bombs from this Squadrons six ship formation were believed to have fallen within the target area. They encountered scant anti-aircraft fire from Ferrara, but it was inaccurate. Bomb load 1000# Radio release on channel “C”.

Pilot – 1st Lt. Lawson T. Ware

Co-Pilot – Flight Officer 2^nd Lt. Alfred James Nelson

Bombardier – 2nd Lt. Maleola N. McClenahan

Right Gunner – T/Sgt. James V. Heming

Waist Gunner – S/Sgt. Theodore J. Bennett

Turret Gunner – T/Sgt. James R. Dempsey

PLANE SN 43-4078 – 7W

9TH MISSION ON 22 APR 1945, TARGET F913029 FELONICA FERRY STAGE #5 ON THE PO RIVER (This Box will fly with the 488th Squadron) 6 SHIPS (879-881) 1:35 Today called for an all out effort consisting of the record breaking number of four missions. However, weather permitted but three canceling out the fourth. All three missions attacked Ferry Stages on the Po River. The first mission of 12 ships taking off at 0700 hours and the second raid of six bombers forty-five minutes later bombed with success. Poor weather sent the third mission back without dropping and a stand-down for the remainder of the day was declared.

Pilot – 1st Lt. Kenneth W. Havermale

Co-Pilot – Flight Officer 2^nd Lt. Alfred James Nelson

Bombardier – 2nd Lt. Robert E. Holmes

Right Gunner – T/Sgt. Thomas F. Rosmarin

Waist Gunner – S/Sgt. James M. Oaks

Turret Gunner – S/Sgt. George Gifford

PLANE SN 43-27556 – 7D

10TH MISSION ON 23 APRIL 1945, TARGET G237888 BASSANEO EAST RAILROAD BRIDGE – 12 SHIPS (887) (2:10) Unsuccessful #6 in 2. Germans trying to hold line North of Po Valley. Target area covered by heavy clouds, did not make run, made 3 360 degrees in enemy.

Pilot - 2nd Lt. Lawson T. Ware

Co-Pilot - 2nd Lt. Alfred James Nelson

Navigator/Bombardier - Flight Officer - Lee R. Weil

Right Gunner - Sgt. Sam F. Triantos

Radio Operator/Waist Gunner - Sgt. James M. Hall

Turret Gunner/Engineer - S/Sgt. Emmett O. Holbrook

F - T/Sgt. Thomas A. Hetzel

SN 43-32704 – 7A “MY NAKED ASS”

487th BS

Al’s crew on My Naked Ass

SN 43-32704 – 7A

My father is standing on right. He died in 1991.

11TH MISSION ON 24 APRIL 1945, TARGET A736080 CALLIANO RAILROAD BRIDGE #1 – 12 SHIPS (889) 2:30 Calliano, Italy, 5 miles south of Trento, Adige river. Up early again this morning for an early briefing and take off at 0740 hours. The twelve bombers reached their objective at 0857 and laid a well placed pattern covering the center of the bridge. Heavy flak was encountered. The second was a nickeling mission covering Legnago and Lusia areas.

Pilot – 1st Lt. Kenneth G. Tappert

Co-Pilot - 2nd Lt. Alfred James Nelson

Navigator/Bombardier – 2nd Lt. George R. Pew

Right Gunner – S/Sgt. Douglas F. Shoun

Radio Operator/Waist Gunner – S/Sgt. George D. Parks

Turret Gunner/Engineer - S/Sgt. Albert M. Manis

PLANE SN 43-27510 – 7F “Willie”

12TH MISSION ON 24 APRIL 1945, TARGET K853227 CREMONA SOUTH FERRY STAGE – 12 SHIPS (893) 2:05.

Cremona South Ferry Stage felt the weight of the last twelve ships formation bombs. Both boxes scored hits, but the second box scored direct hits on the center of the pier. Again no opposition was encountered.

Pilot – 1st Lt. Kenneth G. Tappert

Co-Pilot - 2nd Lt. Alfred James Nelson

Navigator/Bombardier – 2nd Lt. George R. Pew

Right Gunner – S/Sgt. Douglas F. Shoun

Radio Operator/Waist Gunner – S/Sgt. George D. Parks

Turret Gunner/Engineer - S/Sgt. Albert M. Manis

PLANE SN 43-27531 – 7R “Uncle Willie”

OTHER PLANES

7G 43-27738 487^th “Dogface Squadron”