Chase Nielsen
Encyclopedia
Chase Jay Nielsen was a career officer in the U.S. Air Force. He is notable as having participated in the Doolittle Raid
in 1942 and being one of the four surviving prisoners of war from that raid.
Born in Hyrum, Utah
, Nielsen attended Utah State University
and graduated in 1939 with a bachelor of science degree in civil engineering. In August 1939, he enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps as a flying cadet. He was commissioned as a second lieutenant in June 1941.
Lieutenant Colonel Nielsen, a lieutenant at the time, was the navigator of "Crew # 6," the sixth B-25 to launch from the deck of the on April 18, 1942. Most of the aircraft were able to reach land after their mission, but two, including Colonel Nielsen's, were forced to ditch off the coast of China. Two men were killed in the ditching.
Eight men in all were taken prisoner by the Japanese and held in inhumane conditions from which four survived. Colonel Nielsen spent 40 months as a prisoner of war, most of the time in solitary confinement, before being rescued at the end of the war by an Office of Strategic Services
para-rescue team and brought back to the U.S.
Colonel Nielsen returned to Shanghai
, China, in January 1946 to testify in war crimes trials against his former captors, who had tortured him with waterboarding
, then called the "water cure."
Colonel Nielsen became a member of Strategic Air Command
(SAC) in March 1949 at Roswell AFB, New Mexico, where he was assigned to the 509th Bombardment Group, the first group to be organized, equipped and trained for nuclear warfare.
During his decade with SAC, Colonel Nielsen helped the command develop key operational innovations, including radar navigation
bombardment, air refueling employing the flying boom, and electronic countermeasures
. He helped integrate "fail safe" and other emergency war order procedures into SAC's unique set of flight profiles.
Colonel Nielsen returned to the air while assigned to SAC and reached more than 10,000 flying hours in B-29s, B-50
s, B-36s and B-52s. His longest flight lasted 26 hours non-stop without refueling from Okinawa, Japan
, to Walker Air Force Base
, in a B-36.
Lieutenant Colonel Nielsen retired from the Air Force in 1961 and began a career as an industrial engineer with the Salt Lake City Air Logistics Center at Hill Air Force Base
, Utah. He retired in 1981.
Colonel Nielsen's decorations include the Distinguished Flying Cross
, the Purple Heart
with Cluster, the Air Force Commendation Medal with Cluster, Outstanding Unit Award
, Longevity Ribbon with four Clusters, and the Breast Order of Pao Ting from the People's Republic of China.
Lt Col Chase Nielsen died at his home in Brigham City, Utah
, March 23, 2007 at the age of 90.
Doolittle Raid
The Doolittle Raid, on 18 April 1942, was the first air raid by the United States to strike the Japanese Home Islands during World War II. By demonstrating that Japan itself was vulnerable to American air attack, it provided a vital morale boost and opportunity for U.S. retaliation after the...
in 1942 and being one of the four surviving prisoners of war from that raid.
Born in Hyrum, Utah
Hyrum, Utah
As of the census of 2000, there are 6,316 people, 1,683 households, and 1,497 families residing in the city. The population density is 1,617.2 people per square mile . There are 1,744 housing units at an average density of 446.5 per square mile...
, Nielsen attended Utah State University
Utah State University
Utah State University is a public university located in Logan, Utah. It is a land-grant and space-grant institution and is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities....
and graduated in 1939 with a bachelor of science degree in civil engineering. In August 1939, he enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps as a flying cadet. He was commissioned as a second lieutenant in June 1941.
Lieutenant Colonel Nielsen, a lieutenant at the time, was the navigator of "Crew # 6," the sixth B-25 to launch from the deck of the on April 18, 1942. Most of the aircraft were able to reach land after their mission, but two, including Colonel Nielsen's, were forced to ditch off the coast of China. Two men were killed in the ditching.
Eight men in all were taken prisoner by the Japanese and held in inhumane conditions from which four survived. Colonel Nielsen spent 40 months as a prisoner of war, most of the time in solitary confinement, before being rescued at the end of the war by an Office of Strategic Services
Office of Strategic Services
The Office of Strategic Services was a United States intelligence agency formed during World War II. It was the wartime intelligence agency, and it was a predecessor of the Central Intelligence Agency...
para-rescue team and brought back to the U.S.
Colonel Nielsen returned to Shanghai
Shanghai
Shanghai is the largest city by population in China and the largest city proper in the world. It is one of the four province-level municipalities in the People's Republic of China, with a total population of over 23 million as of 2010...
, China, in January 1946 to testify in war crimes trials against his former captors, who had tortured him with waterboarding
Waterboarding
Waterboarding is a form of torture in which water is poured over the face of an immobilized captive, thus causing the individual to experience the sensation of drowning...
, then called the "water cure."
Colonel Nielsen became a member of Strategic Air Command
Strategic Air Command
The Strategic Air Command was both a Major Command of the United States Air Force and a "specified command" of the United States Department of Defense. SAC was the operational establishment in charge of America's land-based strategic bomber aircraft and land-based intercontinental ballistic...
(SAC) in March 1949 at Roswell AFB, New Mexico, where he was assigned to the 509th Bombardment Group, the first group to be organized, equipped and trained for nuclear warfare.
During his decade with SAC, Colonel Nielsen helped the command develop key operational innovations, including radar navigation
Radar navigation
Marine and aviation radar systems can provide very useful navigation information in a variety of situations. When a vessel is within radar range of land or special radar aids to navigation, the navigator can take distances and angular bearings to charted objects and use these to establish arcs of...
bombardment, air refueling employing the flying boom, and electronic countermeasures
Electronic countermeasures
An electronic countermeasure is an electrical or electronic device designed to trick or deceive radar, sonar or other detection systems, like infrared or lasers. It may be used both offensively and defensively to deny targeting information to an enemy...
. He helped integrate "fail safe" and other emergency war order procedures into SAC's unique set of flight profiles.
Colonel Nielsen returned to the air while assigned to SAC and reached more than 10,000 flying hours in B-29s, B-50
B-50 Superfortress
The Boeing B-50 Superfortress strategic bomber was a post-World War II revision of the Boeing B-29 Superfortress, fitted with more powerful Pratt & Whitney R-4360 radial engines, stronger structure, a taller fin, and other improvements. It was the last piston-engined bomber designed by Boeing for...
s, B-36s and B-52s. His longest flight lasted 26 hours non-stop without refueling from Okinawa, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, to Walker Air Force Base
Walker Air Force Base
Walker Air Force Base is a closed United States Air Force base located three miles south of the central business district of Roswell, a city in Chaves County, New Mexico, US...
, in a B-36.
Lieutenant Colonel Nielsen retired from the Air Force in 1961 and began a career as an industrial engineer with the Salt Lake City Air Logistics Center at Hill Air Force Base
Hill Air Force Base
Hill Air Force Base is a major U.S. Air Force Base located in northern Utah, just south of the city of Ogden, and near the towns of Clearfield, Riverdale, Roy, Sunset, and Layton. It is about north of Salt Lake City. The base was named in honor of Major Ployer Peter Hill of the U.S. Army Air...
, Utah. He retired in 1981.
Colonel Nielsen's decorations include the Distinguished Flying Cross
Distinguished Flying Cross (United States)
The Distinguished Flying Cross is a medal awarded to any officer or enlisted member of the United States armed forces who distinguishes himself or herself in support of operations by "heroism or extraordinary achievement while participating in an aerial flight, subsequent to November 11, 1918." The...
, the Purple Heart
Purple Heart
The Purple Heart is a United States military decoration awarded in the name of the President to those who have been wounded or killed while serving on or after April 5, 1917 with the U.S. military. The National Purple Heart Hall of Honor is located in New Windsor, New York...
with Cluster, the Air Force Commendation Medal with Cluster, Outstanding Unit Award
Outstanding Unit Award
The Air Force Outstanding Unit Award is an award of the United States Air Force which was first created in 1954. The award is presented as a ribbon to any command of the U.S...
, Longevity Ribbon with four Clusters, and the Breast Order of Pao Ting from the People's Republic of China.
Lt Col Chase Nielsen died at his home in Brigham City, Utah
Brigham City, Utah
Brigham City is a city in Box Elder County, Utah, United States. The population was 17,899 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Box Elder County. It lies on the western slope of the Wellsville Mountains, a branch of the Wasatch Range at the western terminus of Box Elder Canyon...
, March 23, 2007 at the age of 90.