Sven Elmer Roland Nelson
PFC Sven E. R. “Elmer” Nelson was a Marine pilot who flew with VMSB-141.
He was reported missing in action at Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands, on 2 October 1942.
Branch
Marine Corps Reserve
Service Number 339722
Current Status
Remains Not Recovered
Pursuit Category
The DPAA has not publicized this information.
Capsule History
Pre-War Life
Birth
December 25, 1921
at Mjällby, Sweden
Parents
Oskar Nilsson (d. 1943)
Agnes Amalia (Sjöbäck) Nilsson
Education
Sycamore High School (1940)
Occupation & Employer
Steel inspector
Service Life
Entered Service
January 3, 1942
at Chicago, IL
Home Of Record
Sycamore, IL
Next Of Kin
Mother, Mrs. Agnes Nelson
Military Specialty
Aviation radioman/gunner
Primary Unit
VMSB-141
Campaigns Served
Solomon Islands / Guadalcanal
Individual Decorations
Purple Heart
Additional Service Details
(only if relevant and short)
Loss And Burial
Circumstances Of Loss
PFC Elmer Nelson, a Swedish-born Marine aviation radioman and gunner. After finishing his training at Jacksonville in July 1942, Nelson was assigned to duty with VMSB-141, a scout-bomber squadron preparing for overseas deployment. He arrived in the Solomon Islands and began flying missions out of Guadalcanal in September.
On 2 October 1942, Nelson and 2Lt. Edward W. Ayres were assigned to a routine sector search over the Russell Islands. They were joined by Lt. (j.g.) Herbert H. Perritte and ARM2c Irvin E. Newsome, Jr., of VS-71. Over the Russells, Japanese pilots of the Tainan kokutai forced the Americans to scurry for cloud cover and retreat back towards Guadalcanal. They were almost within sight of safety when, over Savo Island, ten Zeros of the 6th kokutai ambushed the two Dauntless bombers. Both American planes were shot down; none of the aircrew were seen alive again.
Elmer Nelson was reported as missing in action and carried in such status for more than three years. No trace of pilot, gunner, or SBD-3 03311 was ever found. The two Marines were ultimately declared dead on 5 December 1945.
Burial Information or Disposition
None; remains not recovered.
Memorials
Next Of Kin Address
Address of mother, Mrs. Agnes Nelson.
Location Of Loss
Ayres and Nelson were shot down in the vicinity of Savo Island.
