Lucky Bag Yearbook

From the 1962 Lucky Bag:

Peter John Nelson

One of our good ‘jet jockeys’ of the future could well be Pete Nelson, who hailed from Westbrook, Minnesota. Flying jets will be quite a switch for Pete, for, until he hit Canoe U., he had never gotten any higher than his horse, Diamond Lady, could jump. Now Pete has taken up varsity wrestling, battalion football, and is determined to use the ice skates he keeps on top of his locker. Although quiet and girl-shy when he entered Canoe U., Pete soon became an ardent participant in the “Flying Squadron” during most weekends. Pete never starred, but he always managed to come up with the rent when the academic departments called for it. Not giving up easily, Pete will be a welcome addition to Navy Air on graduation.

Loss

Peter died on February 27, 1970 of injuries sustained in a helicopter crash at Ellyson Field, Pensacola, on February 19th. The helicopter was operating with USS Taconic (LCC 17); the other four men aboard were also killed.

Other Information

From the May 1970 issue of Shipmate:

Lt. Nelson was born in Windom, Mn., and graduated from the Naval Academy with the class of 1962. He spent three years after graduation at the Naval Air Base at Pensacola, Fl., where he became a helicopter pilot. He logged over 1000 hours of combat flying in a year’s tour of duty in Vietnam and was decorated by the Navy for his service in the war. Lt. Nelson returned to Pensacola as helicopter instructor after this tour of duty, and it was on a student flight that the accident occurred which caused his death.

He is survived by his mother, Mrs. Emily Nelson of Westbrook, Mn.; two sisters; and three brothers.

Pete is buried in Minnesota.

Photographs

From the May 1970 issue of _Shipmate_.

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