Chase Nielsen
Chase J. Nielsen | |
---|---|
Born | Hyrum, Utah, U.S. | January 14, 1917
Died | March 23, 2007 Brigham City, Utah, U.S. | (aged 90)
Buried | Hyrum City Cemetery Hyrum, Utah, U.S. |
Allegiance | United States of America |
Branch | United States Army Air Forces United States Air Force |
Years of service | 1939–1961 |
Rank | Lieutenant colonel |
Unit | 17th Bomb Group |
Battles/wars | |
Awards | Distinguished Flying Cross Purple Heart (2) Air Medal |
Chase Jay Nielsen (January 14, 1917 – March 23, 2007) was a career officer in the
Early life
Born in Hyrum, Utah to Floyd Nielsen and Carrie Miller Nielsen, who were of Danish, Swedish, Prussian, and Welsh descent. He was one of six children born to the family and was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In 1935, he graduated from South Cache High School in Hyrum, Utah and then attended Utah State University, where he graduated in 1939 with a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering.[2][3]
Military career
In August 1939, he enlisted in the
World War II
After the
Doolittle Raid
In February 1942, Nielsen volunteered for a "secret mission", even though he did not know what duties were involved or any other details. This mission ended up being the critical Doolittle Raid, which was led by Lieutenant Colonel Jimmy Doolittle. The raid was daring not only because of the intended targets, the Japanese homeland, but because the pilots trained to take-off in a B-25 bomber from the deck of an aircraft carrier, something neither the designers of the B-25, nor the aircraft carrier, ever envisioned.[7][5]
Nielsen was the navigator for sixth bomber, plane# 40-2298 nicknamed "The Green Hornet", to depart the deck of the
On April 27, as they tried to reach safety with the help of friendly local Chinese, all three men were captured by Japanese troops and interred as POWs in Shanghai, along with crew of the sixteenth bomber. Nielsen and other American prisoners were held in solitary confinement, where they were threatened and tortured by the Japanese, but resisted weeks of interrogation. The Japanese government sentenced all the eight prisoners to death and after a mock trial on October 14, 1942, Hallmark, Second Lieutenant William G. Farrow (pilot of bomber#16) and Sergeant Harold A. Spatz (gunner of bomber#16) were selected for execution, while the Japanese commuted others to life in prison. The three men were executed on October 15, 1942, at Shanghai's Public Cemetery No. 1.[9][10]
Nielsen and other prisoners of the raid were placed in solitary confinement and on the anniversary of the Doolittle Raid in 1943, the prisoners were transferred to a military prison at
Post war
Nielsen became a member of
During his decade with SAC, Colonel Nielsen helped the command develop key operational innovations, including
Colonel Nielsen returned to the air while assigned to SAC and reached more than 10,000 flying hours in
Later life
Nielsen was married twice and had three children from his first marriage, and several grand and great-grandchildren.[5]
After his retirement from the Air Force, Nielsen began a career as an industrial engineer with the Ogden Air Logistics Center at Hill Air Force Base, Utah. He retired in 1981.[5]
Nielsen died at his home in Brigham City, Utah on March 23, 2007, at the age of 90. He was buried at Hyrum City Cemetery in Hyrum, Utah.[13][14]
Awards and honors
U.S. Air Force Master Navigator/Observer Badge | |||||||||||
Distinguished Flying Cross | Purple Heart with bronze oak leaf cluster | ||||||||||
Air Medal | Air Force Commendation Medal with bronze oak leaf cluster |
Air Force Presidential Unit Citation with bronze oak leaf cluster | |||||||||
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
|
Prisoner of War Medal | American Defense Service Medal | |||||||||
American Campaign Medal with service star |
campaign star
|
World War II Victory Medal
| |||||||||
National Defense Service Medal with service star |
Air Force Longevity Service Award with four bronze oak leaf clusters |
Armed Forces Reserve Medal | |||||||||
Republic of China Medal of the Armed Forces A-1 |
Republic of China Order of the Sacred Tripod | Republic of China War Memorial Medal |
- In 2002, he was inducted into the Utah Aviation Hall of Fame.[15]
References
- ^ "WWII hero Chase J. Nielsen dies". Desert News. 2007-03-26. Retrieved 2022-12-18.
- ^ "Chase J. Nielsen, Salt Lake City, Utah: an interview by Winston P. Erickson: Saving the legacy tape no. 64 and 65". J. Willard Marriot Digital Library University of Utah. 2000-07-11. Retrieved 2022-12-18.
- ^ a b "Chase Jay Nielsen, 0-419938, Lieutenant Colonel". Children of the Doolittle Raiders. Retrieved 2022-12-18.
- ^ a b "Chase J. Nielsen". Veteran Tributes. Retrieved 2022-12-18.
- ^ a b c d e Mclellan, Dennis (2007-03-30). "Chase J. Nielsen, 90; aviator captured after Doolittle raid". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 18, 2022.
- ^ "17th Bombardment Wing". Global Security. Retrieved 2022-12-18.
- ^ Kendall, Mary Claire (2012-11-11). "Doolittle's Raiders And The Miracle That Saved Them". Forbes. Retrieved 2022-09-29.
- ^ "Crew of 6th Aircraft - Plane # 40-2298 - "The Green Hornet" - Crew from 95th Squadron, 17th Group". Children of the Doolittle Raiders. Retrieved 2022-12-18.
- ^ Smith, Kenny (2011-01-20). "'There goes Hallmark': Story of former Auburn student captured during Doolittle campaign and mentioned 'In 30 Seconds Over Tokyo' slowly coming to light". The War Eagle Reader. Retrieved 2022-12-18.
- ISBN 9781455607983. Retrieved 2022-12-18.
- ^ Wallach, Evan (November 4, 2007). "Waterboarding Used to Be a Crime". The Washington Post.
- ^ a b c Lt. Col. Stephen Culter (2007-03-25). "Air Force legend Col. Chase Nielsen passes away". United States Air Force. Retrieved December 18, 2022.
- ^ "Chase J. Nielsen". Legacy. 2007. Retrieved 2022-12-18.
- ^ "Lt. Col. Chase Nielsen service held March 28". United States Air Force. 2007-03-28. Retrieved December 18, 2022.
- ^ "Utah Aviation Hall of Fame Inductees". Hill Aerospace Museum. 30 December 2019. Retrieved 2022-12-18.
This article incorporates public domain material from the United States Air Force