My father Fred Nelson was a member of the 38th bomb group and the 71st and 822nd. I am interested in information on the group. I have just completed reviewing my Dad's records and reading a book called the Big Distance by Captain's Donald Hough and Elliott Arnold. The book has a lot of information regarding the 5th Air Force and the battles that took place in the Southwest Pacific. I have been able to piece together some of the missions my Dad flew and references in the book. I plan on posting a message on the web page. There is a posting on the web page referencing my Dad by James Gryc. I have a picture of my Dad and Lt. Gryc along with other crew members. I emailed Mr. Gryc but have not received a response...........I'm afraid his posting may be a year or two old. Please provide me info on the possibility of joining the 38th bomb group. Take care!
Sincerely, John Nelson
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My mother's first husband, Capt. John W. Long, Jr., served with your father in the 822nd Bomb Squadron in 1945. Long was the squadron navigator while your father was the operations officer and later commander of the squadron. They flew on several missions together. One mission of note was on February 26, 1945 during a single-airplane weather reconnaissance mission to Formosa. They spotted a Japanese Betty bomber flying on a parallel course. Nelson skillfully positioned his B-25 behind the enemy plane and opened fire. The Betty caught fire, and Nelson's crew was credited with shooting it down.
Long later was transferred to the group headquarters where he served as the group navigator at the end of the war. He was killed on August 9, 1945, in a mission to sink a Japanese aircraft carrier in Japan
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I am the editor of the 38th BG newsletter. If you will contact me directly, I will tell you how you can become a "Friend of the 38th". Only veterans can become members under our non-profit charter. By becoming a "Friend" you will receive our newsletter three times a year and information about our Reunions so that you can get together with us. At our last Reunion at the end of September, we voted to have Reunions every year instead of every two years.
If you include a mailing address, I will send you a copy of our newsletter.
David Gunn
pappygnk@juno.com
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John; I was the Navigator on one mission with your father. It was a low level strike on the railroad yards in Taichu, Formosa, April 22, 1945. I can give you more details if you will contact me.
Regards, Victor Smith
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