Stan Nelson

Total military service 20 years and 9 mos.

Basic training January 1960. Basic helicopter maintenance course Feb 1960 to July 1960.

Aug 1960 to May 1965, assigned to 1110th Balloon Activity Squadron, 1212th Balloon Activity Squadron and Det 15 Central Air Rescue at Goodfellow AFB, Texas. Helicopter mechanic and Flight mechanic on CH-21B helicopters. Mission was to launch and recover high altitude weather balloons (air sampling) from where ever the winds aloft took them. West into far West Texas and New Mexico in the summer months and east into East Texas, Arkansas, Missouri, Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama in the winter months.

June 1965 to June 1968, assigned to Det 9, Atlantic Air Rescue LBR unit at Moron Air Base, Spain. HH-43B Huskies. Involved in the recovery of four H bombs lost over southeast Spain from a B-52 after colliding with a KC-135 Tanker.

July 1968 to July 1969, assigned Det 13, Central Air Rescue LBR unbit at Perrin AFB, Texas. HH-43B Huskies.

Aug 1969 to Dec 1969, assigned to ARRTC at Eglin AFB, Florida. Flight Engineer training and qualification on the HH-53 helicopters. Augmented AARTC air crew staff from Oct to Dec 1969.

Dec 1969 to Dec 1970, assigned to the 40th ARRSq at Udorn, Royal Thai Air Base, Thailand. Worked in the Stand/Eval office under Lt Col Phil Prince.

Jan 1971 to Feb 1972, assigned to the 6515 OMS at Edwards Air Force Base, California. Worked on the UH-1N weapons systems tests, Cat II systems tests on the HH-53C, HH-53C Have Lake test project (mid-air retrieval of the new larger reconnaissance drones),  and Pave Low I test project.

Feb 1972 to Nov 1972, assigned to 37 ARRSq at DaNang Air Base, Republic of Vietnam.

Dec 1972 to June 1974, assigned to Scott AFB Illinois, ARRS Headquarters office of Stand/Eval as an HH-53 Flight Engineer air crew examiner.

Jun 1974 to Sept 1974, 1550th ATTW, flight engineer aircrew training and qualification on the HH-3E helicopter.

Oct 1974 to Oct 1975, 5040th Helicopter Squadron, Elmendorf AFB, Alaska.

Oct 1975 to Dec 1976, 71ARRSq, Elmendorf AFB, Alaska, NCOIC of the helicopter flt engineer section.

Jan 1976 to Sept 1980, reassigned to Scott AFB Illinois, ARRS headquarters as an HH-3E and HH-53B/C flight engineer aircrew flight examiner.

Sept 1980, retired from active duty.

"FREEDOM ISN'T FREE"

~SOMEONE PAYS FOR YOU AND ME~

"HELICOPTERS" - THE ONLY WAY TO FLY

~NEVER FORGOTTEN~