Veteran Spotlight: Norman Nelson, Hill Air Force Base, Utah - 1 of 9

HILL AIR FORCE BASE, UT, UNITED STATES

11.02.2018

Story by Todd Cromar and David Perry

Hill Air Force Base

HILL AIR FORCE BASE, Utah – Today’s spotlight is Air Force veteran Norman Nelson.

Nelson enlisted in the Air Force in 1956 and served 22 years before retiring in 1978.

While in the Air Force, he worked as an ammo troop and served in a variety of locations.

Early in his career, while stationed at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, Nelson participated in testing, research and development with munitions systems during the early 1960s. He took part in the acceptance test on the AIR-2A “GENIE” munitions system, which was designed for nuclear war heads during its initial use by the Air Force.

Norman served four tours of duty in the Vietnam War from 1967 to 1970.

During the war, his first tour was working with B-52s in Sattahip, Thailand. His second tour was working with prop aircraft at Nakhon Phanom Air Base. During this second tour, Nelson also worked as support for helicopter rescue of downed pilots.

His third and fourth tour took him to Phan Rang Air Base working with the F-100s and B-57s. He then spent six months teaching English with the English Language Institute in Saigon.

One memorable experience Nelson recalled took place at Phan Rang Air Base loading ammo during a “hot” mission.

“During one particular intense battle occurring 30 miles away, we were loading multiple aircraft with ammo as soon as they would land, with engines running, to immediately send them back out,” he said. “This went on continuously for hours, and I could see aircraft flying 100 feet apart, inbound and outbound, lined up as far as the eye could see. I have never seen so many gunships in all my life.”

Nelson now resides in Perry, Utah, and enjoys volunteering at the Hill Aerospace Museum.

Thank you for your service, Norman Nelson!

• Date Taken: 11.02.2018
• Date Posted: 12.06.2018 14:52
• Story ID: 300099
• Location: HILL AIR FORCE BASE, UT, US