Nelson Omer Harmon was born on 12 April 1917 to Avery Martin Harmon and Anna Mae Bunton.
Died 10 October 1943
Staff Sergeant
351st Bomber Group, 508th Bomber Squadron
Aircraft B-17F with serial number 42-29868 was on a heavy bombardment mission to Ankam, Germany. The aircraft was hit by an ME-109 over the Baltic Sea. The ship caught fire immediately and exploded in the air. The Top Turret Gunner, Navigator, Bombardier and Co-pilot bailed out. A German boat picked up Curlis an hour later. He encouraged the Germans to search for the others. Williams was next to be picked up and the third fellow was Teal, T/Sgt (not a crewmember of aircraft 42-29868). The Germans didn´t give up their search immediately but continued for some time. Though no others were picked up. The body of Silverman washed ashore on 10 October 1943 at Fodslette, on the island of Langeland, Demark. Staff Sergeant Harmon’s body also washed ashore and was recovered by the German customs guards and initially buried at Petersdorf Cemetery, Petersdorf, Germany. He was later repatriated to the U.S. and was interred at Bunton Cemetery, Johnson County, TN in 1950.
Crew members
Pilot, 1st Lt Joseph H. Turley
Co-Pilot, 1st Lt Frank E. Williams Jr.
Navigator, 2nd Lt Robert W. Coe
Bombardier, 2nd Lt Abraham Silverman
Top Turret Gunner, T/Sgt Theodore P. Curlis
Radio Operator, T/Sgt Theodore W. Brantz
Left Waist Gunner, S/Sgt Raymond A. Hammond
Right Waist Gunner, S/Sgt Nelson O. Harmon
Ball Turret Gunner, Sgt Alvin L. Jeanes
Tail Gunner, S/Sgt William E. Trask
Johnson County News, Mountain City, Thursday, April 20, 1950
The body of Staff Sergeant Nelson Omar Harmon of the Butler section, who was killed in action over the Baltic Sea on Oct. 10, 1943, has been returned for burial. Funeral has been set for 2 o’clock Saturday, June 17, at Buntontown Baptist Church, with Rev. John Hagaman of Zionville, N.C., Rev. Dayton Jones and Rev. J. Roby Stout officiating. Burial will be in Bunton Cemetery with military honors accorded by the local color guard and firing squad.
The body was moved to the home of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Avery Harmon, at Carderview on Thursday from Elizabethton. The body of the 26 year-old sergeant at the time of his death, was found in February of this year, about six and a half years after he had been reported missing in action over the Batlic sea. He had been stationed at Leige, Germany.
Sgt. Harmon formerly resided near the old town of Butler, and was educated at Butler and Blackstone, Va. He entered the air corps Dec 9, 1941, and as a bombardier, had completed 18 missions. He was awarded the Medal of Honor, Air Medal, Purple Heart, and Oak Leaf Cluster. Harmon was a member of the Episcopal Church at Rochchester, N.Y.
Besides his parents, survivors include four brothers, Allen of Valley Forge; Norman of the army, Bobby Ray and Billy Joe of Carderview; three sisters, Mrs. Kermit Cable, Eunice and Betty Harmon, all of Carderview; paternal grandmother, Mrs. Sam Harmon of Shell Creek; and the maternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. U. S. Bunton of Hampton.
- Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Date of birth: 12 April 1917
- Date of death: 10 October 1943
- County: Johnson
- Hometown: Carder View
- Service Branch: Army/Army Air Forces
- Division/Assignment: 351st Bomber Group, 508th Bomber Squadron
- Theater: Europe
- Conflict: World War II
- Awards: Purple Heart, Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster
- Burial/Memorial Location: Bunton Cemetery, Johnson County, TN
- Location In Memorial: Pillar VIII, Top Panel
- Contact us to sponsor Nelson O. Harmon
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