NELSON, William Henry
https://www.cjhn.ca/link/genealogy346
- Collection
- Canadian Jewish Congress organizational records
- Material Type
- textual record
- graphic material
- Archival / Genealogical
- Genealogy Records
- Material Type
- textual record
- graphic material
- Date of Birth
- April 02, 1917
- Date of Death
- November 14, 1940
- Place of Burial
- Surrey, England
- Cemetery
- Runnymede Memorial
- Age at Time of Death
- 25
- Enlistment No.
- 39675
- Rank
- Flight Lieutenant
- Unit
- Royal Air Force
- Notes
- Flight Lieutenant William Nelson was from Montreal, Quebec. He was twice personally congratulated by His Majesty for his exploits as captain of a heavy bomber, received the Distinguished Flying Cross at Buckingham Palace on June 6, 1940, and thus became the first Canadian Jew to be decorated in this war. The citation read: “Nelson carried out many flights over enemy territory, always showing the greatest determination and courage. After an attack on Stavanger, Norway, he encountered a balloon barrage and sent a report to base headquarters in time to warn aircraft.” Flight Lieutenant Nelson was interested in aviation since early childhood, when he began building model airplanes, and in 1936 Flight Lieutenant Nelson worked his way across the Atlantic to join the Royal Air Force. After he overcame several obstacles to his enlistment, he was finally accepted and posted as lecturer. He was a member of the first bomber squadron to fly over German territory after the declaration of war in September 1939. He was among the airmen who raided Stavanger and the German air base at Sylt and took part in the evacuation from Dunkirk. He was listed as missing (R.A.F. Casualty List No. 52) and was presumed killed for official purposes on May 26, 1941. Biography in comic book “Jewish War Heroes,” published by CJC. See also the Jewish Virtual Library at www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/ww2/sugar4.html.
- Subjects
- World War II
- Record Source
- Canadian Jewish Military Casualties
- Fonds No.
- CJC0001
- Archival / Genealogical
- Genealogy Records
- Repository
- Canadian Jewish Archives
Documents
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