Gordon Howard Nelson was born in Truro, Colchester Co., Nova Scotia on September 11, 1924. At enlistment he was a resident of Woodside, Halifax Co., Nova Scotia and was employed (1941-1942) as a Hydraulic fitter with Clarke Ruse Aircraft, Eastern Passage, NS. He enlisted on July 30, 1942 in Halifax, Nova Scotia with the 2nd Reserve Battalion Halifax Rifles and transferred to active Service on February 4, 1943. Gordon enlisted with the RCAF on January 11, 1943, at the age of 18. He trained in Canada serving at RCAF Station Yarmouth between April 15, and June 26, 1943. He obtained his Air Gunner Badge on November 12, 1943. He went overseas arriving in the United Kingdom on December 21, 1943. On May 28, 1944 he was initially listed missing during a cross country training flight while serving with No. 1659 Conversion unit, when the aircraft crashed into the Irish Sea. His body was never recovered and he is listed on the Runnymede Memorial, Surry, United Kingdom. Sources: Canadian Virtual War Memorial Service File - Gordon Howard Nelson