Erik H. Nelson was born in Stockholm, Sweden on June 12, 1888, coming to the United States in April, 1909, and making his home in New York City, New York, subsequently becoming naturalized in 1914. He was a mechanical engineer for the Curtiss Aeroplane Company, and also had charge of the Flying School operated by that company in New York. He enlisted in the Aviation Section of the Signal Corps Reserve Corps as a Flying Cadet, on September 15, 1917, going on active duty on November 3, 19197, in the United States School of Military Aeronautics, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, and graduating in January, 1918. He completed the Reserve Military Aviator test at Ellington Field, Texas, on April 22, 1918, and was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Air Service on active duty, remaining at that field for duty in the Bombing School as a student officer.
General Nelson was a Flight Instructor at Ellington Field from June 1, 1918, until December 21, 1918. He was transferred to Kelly Field, Texas, in September, 1919, joining the 20th Aero Squadron at that post and moving to Mitchel Field, New York, on June 1, 1920, for engineering duty. In the summer of 1920, from July 15, to October 20, he took part in the Alaskan Flight Expedition between Mitchel Field, New York, and Nome, Alaska, and for this achievement was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross with the following citation:
“For extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight. As assistant pilot of one of the planes and engineering officer for the Alaskan Flying Expedition in a flight from Mitchel Field, New York, to Nome, Alaska, and return, from July 15, to October 20, 1920, he exhibited fortitude, perseverance, courage and skill, which aided materially in the successful completion of this pioneer flight to Alaska.”
General Nelson was transferred to McCook Field, Dayton, Ohio, in February, 1921, where he became Test Pilot and Chief of the Airplane and Motor Maintenance Branch. Between March 3, 1923, and April 1923; and starting from San Antonio, Texas, he took part in the Puerto Rican Flight which ended at Bolling Field, Washington, D.C.
General Nelson was one of the party which made the first round-the-world flight in the summer of 1924. For this feat during which he was pilot of Airplane No. 4, the “New Orleans,” he was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal with the following citation:
“For exceptionally meritorious and distinguished services in a position of great responsibility, Lieutenant Nelson, as pilot of Airplane No. 4, the ‘New Orleans,’ and engineer officer of the U.S. Army Air Service around-the-world flight from April 6, 1924, to September 28, 1924, displayed sound technical skill, initiative, untiring energy, and resourcefulness and succeeded in piloting his airplane throughout the voyage. His sound judgement, indefatigable energy, and courageous conduct in the face of extraordinary perils contributed largely to the success of this pioneer flight of airplanes around the world. In the efficient performance of his arduous duties he aided in the accomplishment of an exploit which brought great credit to himself and to the Army of the United States.”
He was also awarded the French Legion of Honor, the Swedish Royal Order of the Sword and other foreign decorations. A Congressional act also recognized this feat.
In February, 1925, General Nelson was ordered to Santa Monica, California, for duty at the Douglass Aircraft Company as Production Manager for Air Service contacts for the Ninth Corps Area.
In May, 1927, General Nelson was transferred to Dayton, Ohio, for duty in the Material Division of the Air Service and in June, 1927, was assigned to Buffalo, New York, for duty as the Air Corps Representative at the Curtiss factory. He resigned from the Regular Army, effective June 30, 1928, taking a position in the Boeing Airplane Company in Seattle, Washington. He later was commissioned in the Reserve as a major and assigned to the Air Corps on December 29, 1928.
General Nelson was appointed a lieutenant colonel in the Army of the United States on December 12, 1941, while serving as Aviation Consultant in the Office of Production Management, Washington, D.C., and was called to active duty on December 18, effective January 2, 1942, and assigned to the Inspection Division of the Office of the Chief of the Air Corps, Washington, D.C.
Among the many engineering and organizational duties he performed during the war, he worked as a technical expert in modifying the Wright engines of the B-29 “Superfortress” to prevent their overheating under combat conditions. He carried out this important work initially at the Oklahoma City Air Depot, Oklahoma, and then overseas with the XX Bomber Command on combat operations in India.
He was promoted to the rank of brigadier general on October 25, 1945, and retired from military service on February 11, 1946. He later served as technical advisor to the Swedish Intercontinental Airlines.
General Nelson died on May, 9, 1970, at Honolulu, Hawaii.
In addition to the feats specifically mentioned in the foregoing, General Nelson made a long distance cross-country flight in the United States Army following the war; again early in 1919 he made a 4000-mile flight from the Gulf of Mexico to the Pacific Coast and return, during which he carried a photographer to take the first aerial pictures of the Grand Canyon; in the summer of 1919, he led a squadron of four planes on a 7000-mile recruiting tour of the Air Service; and in 1923, he led a survey flight of the West Indies.
In addition to the medals previously listed, General Nelson holds the Mackay Trophy, Legion of Merit with Oak Leaf Cluster, World War I Victory Medal, American Campaign Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, and World War II Victory Medal.