Elmer Nelson was born in 1922 in Alabama. He resided in Talladega County, Alabama prior to the war. He enlisted in the Army on October 9, 1942 at Turner Field, Albany, Georgia. He was noted, at the time of his enlistment, as being employed as a Machinist and also as Single, without dependents. Elmer served as a Flight Officer and Pilot on C-46A #41-12428, 3rd Squadron, 1st Transport Group, U.S. Army Air Force during World War II.
C-46A #41-12428 was noted as exploding, for an unknown reason, while at the airfield at Mowting India. The entire crew was lost. The remains of Corp. Walicki were the only ones found. Elmer was declared "Missing In Action" in this explosion. His name is commemorated on the Walls of the Missing, Manila American Cemetery, Taguig City, Philippines.
F/O Nelson was one of over 2000 Americans who lost their lives defending China from their Japanese invaders from 1941-1945. He is also commemorated on the The Monument to the Aviation Martyrs in the War of Resistance Against Japan in Nanjing, China.
Source of information: www.findagrave.com, www.abmc.gov