13 Facts About Chase Nielsen

Chase Jay Nielsen was a career officer in the US Air Force.

Chase Nielsen participated in the Doolittle Raid in 1942 and was one of the four surviving prisoners of war from that raid.

Chase Nielsen was one of six children born to the family and was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Chase Nielsen graduated from Navigator School in June 1941 and on the same month, Nielsen was assigned to the 17th Bomb Group at McChord Field in Washington, which was equipped with the North American B-25 Mitchell bomber.

In February 1942, Chase Nielsen volunteered for a "secret mission", even though he did not know what duties were involved or any other details.

Chase Nielsen became a member of Strategic Air Command in March 1949 at Roswell AFB in New Mexico, where he was assigned to the 509th Bombardment Group, the first group to be organized, equipped and trained for nuclear warfare.

Chase Nielsen helped integrate "fail safe" and other emergency war order procedures into SAC's unique set of flight profiles.

Colonel Chase Nielsen returned to the air while assigned to SAC and reached more than 10,000 flying hours in B-29s, B-50s, B-36s and B-52s.

Lieutenant Colonel Chase Nielsen retired from the Air Force in 1961.

Chase Nielsen accumulated over 10,000 flying hours during his Air Force career.

Chase Nielsen was married twice and had three children from his first marriage, and several grand and great-grandchildren.

Chase Nielsen died at his home in Brigham City, Utah on March 23,2007, at the age of 90.

Chase Nielsen was buried at Hyrum City Cemetery in Hyrum, Utah.