Funeral of Shropshire war hero Don Nelson

Thursday 31st March 2011, 4:56PM BST.

Donald Nelson at RAF Cosford with its Wellington bomber

Family and friends of a Shropshire hero of the Second World War, who flew 70 “ops” in bombers, have paid tribute to him at his funeral.

About 50 people turned out at Emstrey Crematorium in Shrewsbury yesterday to pay their final respects to Don Nelson, who died on March 20 at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital after a stroke at his home.

The 91-year-old, of Trimpley Court, Ellesmere, was a highly-decorated navigator in the RAF.

He was twice awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, which recognised acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty.

A eulogy was read out on behalf of Mike Tomlinson, chairman of the Royal Air Force Association of Ellesmere.

It told how Mr Nelson flew 33 of his operations in Number 7 Squadron of the Pathfinders, a group of elite, specially-trained crews formed in 1942.

The eulogy read: “More than 55,000 men from Bomber Command overall lost their lives — a 44 per cent death rate.

“Don keenly supported the initiative at last to build a memorial to Bomber Command in London’s Green Park.

“The memorial is scheduled to be opened later this year and it is a pity that Don did not live long enough to see it inaugurated. But at least he passed away knowing that it would happen.”

Personnel from RAF Shawbury were also present at the funeral.

Mr Nelson was a member of the Ellesmere Branch of the RAF Association and a former treasurer and president of the Pathfinders Association.

Paying tribute, his son Robin said:”As he entered his 92nd year, he still catered for himself, was still driving, still playing snooker, and he still turned himself out smartly every day.

“He once remarked to me that they could write on his gravestone, ‘he never wore jeans and he never wore trainers’.”

View more: Ellesmere news.