Roland Edward Nairn Jr
MilitaryIWM, Roger Freeman Collection
Assigned to 336BS, 95BG, 8AF USAAF. Staff Sergeant Roland Nairn flew as a togglier in B-17 bomber crews of the 95th Bomb Group. The job of the togglier was to arm and release the bombs over the intended target on each mission.
Whilst flying his 10th mission, over Handorf, on 21-Mar-45, Nairn was hit by flak, wounding his left arm. Despite his injury, he regained his post and released his bombs at the correct time. He received the Air Medal, Distinguished Flying Cross and the Purple Heart, a medal awarded to those wounded in service. As Nairn was left-handed he felt that the ‘German Intelligence knew everything!’
He was referred to a US Army hospital in Essex before being sent home in May 1945. He boarded the Hospital Ship USAHS Charles A. Stafford at Liverpool docks for what he called the ‘slow and bumpy ride’ back to the United States.
Awards: DFC, AM, PH, WWII Victory, EAME.
Connections
See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.
Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Go Getter
- Unit: 95th Bomb Group 334th Bomb Squadron 335th Bomb Squadron
Missions
- Date: 21 March 1945
- Official Description:
Places
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Born |
Washington, DC | 12 October 1921 | Son of Roland E Sr and Frances Juanita Sweeney Nairn. |
Enlisted |
Army Medical Center, District Of Columbia | 17 September 1942 | Army Medical Centre District Of Columbia |
Other Discharged USAAF |
19 January 1946 | ||
Died |
Silver Spring, MD | 21 April 2004 | |
Buried |
Arlington National Cemetery | 5 May 2004 | Arlington National Cemetery Arlington, Virginia Section 54 Site 51 |
Other |
Blackmore Park Hospital, near Botesdale, Suffolk | Stayed at 65th General Army Hospital at Blackmore Park, Botesdale following injury over Handorf, March 1945. | |
Based |
Horham | Assigned to 336BS, 95BG, 8AF USAAF. |
Revisions
https://www.fold3.com/image/540843659
https://www.fold3.com/record/83799752/rola-d-e-nairn-jr-wwii-army-enlis…
https://www.fold3.com/record/704138397/nairn-rola-d-e-us-wwii-hospital-…
https://www.fold3.com/record/702158994/nairn-rola-d-e-us-wwii-hospital-…
https://www.fold3.com/record/700623816/nairn-rola-d-e-us-wwii-hospital-…
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/14442441/roland-e-nairn
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / http://95thbg.org/95th_db_pages/left_formation_code/gethonoroll.php
-Nairn outlined his service in correspondence to Roger Freeman, this is held with the originals of the associated media. Transcriptions of his correspondence can be found in the captions of associated images.
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / newspaper & Combat Sup