418th Sqdn. The Crew joined the 100th BG in Sept. 1943

 The regular radio operator on this crew, Nelson King, suffered severe frostbite which led to amputations. See STORY OF THE CENTURY p. 30 & CONTRAILS p71. Also see SPLASHER SIX (Winter 1978) for obit. of Frank Lauro.

 They crew named their A/C NELSON KING in honor of their Radio operator T/Sgt Nelson King who on 29 Nov 43 removed his gloves while in flight to assist the BTG with an iced up oxygen mask. A few seconds later, his walk around oxygen bottle froze up and in an effort to save T/Sgt King, his hands were neglected. He lost several tips of several fingers to frostbite.

 INCOMPLETE MISSIONS OF CAPT. FRANK LAURO FROM LT GREASAMAR LETTERS HOME:

 T/SGT GREENFIELD MISSIONS AFTER CAPT LAURO CREW FINISHED UP:

 S/SGT TIRRELL MISSIONS AFTER CAPT LAURO CREW FINISHED UP: FLEW ALL MISSIONS WITH CAPT. CHARLES "CHUCK" HARRIS CREW except where noted.

 Nelson R. King, 17064928, Technical Sergeant, Army Air Forces, United States Army. For Gallantry in action while serving as Radio Operator and Gunner of a B-17 airplane on a bombing mission over Germany 29 November 1943. While manning his gun, fighting off fierce attacks by enemy planes, Sergeant King noticed that the ball turret gunner had collapsed from lack of oxygen. As soon as there was a lull in the fighting, he rushed to the turret, removed his stricken comrade to the radio compartment and placed his own oxygen mask on his face. When the gunner regained consciousness he was hysterical and immediately tore off the oxygen mask and began to hit Sergeant King. Still without a supply of oxygen for himself, Sergeant King tied the mask on his hysterical comrade and held him down until he had become quiet. A short time later the copilot found Sergeant King Unconscious from lack of oxygen and his hands badly frost-bitten as he had removed his gloves in order to tie the mask on the ball turret gunner. The gallantry, complete disregard for his own safety and devotion to duty displayed by Sergeant King undoubtedly saved the life of his comrade. His actions on this occasion reflect highest credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of the United States. Entered Military service from Kansas.  

He spent a total of 22 months in the hospital before he returned home. The little bit of information I have was on their ninth bomb run over Bremen, Germany, the ball turrets mask failed. Nelson got a new one from the pilot but the man was weak from a lack of oxygen, making it impossible for Nelson to get it on him without removing his own mask and gloves. He gave the man his oxygen for the valves on the extra tank were frozen. Without oxygen Nelson became unconscious, his fellow crewmen quickly restored his oxygen supply but it was to late for his hands. At 29, 000 feet in thin atmosphere the tiny blood vessels in his fingers contracted, closing off the blood supply and freezing came quickly. On the flight back to England Nelson beat his hands against the walls of the plane to bring feeling back to the numbness. Pieces of icy flesh broke away from his fingers……Nelson died September 06, 1990…he never married, formed a church and it was found only after his death he gave regularly to Christian colleges and churches, mission, orphanages…He was at home on his pasture checking on his cattle when he got almost a mile when he lunged forward and died from a heart attack……Phillip Bigham-cousin of Nelson King

 CREW

418th Sqdn. Crew, as above, joined the 100th in March 1944. First mission on 19/3/44

T/SGT H. H. GREENFIELD TOOK OVER AS ROG AFTER JULY 4, 1944

S/SGT R. L. SCHELLIN TOOK OVER AS BTG ON JUNE 2, 1944

S/SGT W. R. HEATHMAN FLIES AS REPLACEMENT FOR BLUME ON MARCH 23 & 31, 1944

S/SGT JIM MACK (FROM ROSENTHAL CREW) FLIES AS REPLACEMENT FOR BLUME FROM APRIL 1-10, 1944

S/SGT JOHN RYBAK TAKES OVER LWG POSITION ON APRIL 24, 1944

S/SGT ART TIRRELL TAKES OVER AS TG ON APRIL 24, 1944