Edward Raymond Nacey
Era: World War II
Military Branch: Army
NACEY, Edward Raymond
Edward Raymond Nacey was born on September 24th 1922 to Edward Henry & Lorraine Anna [Hayden] Nacey in Duluth, Minnesota. He served in the U.S. Army Air Forces in the European Theater during World War II.
He volunteered for the Air Forces in August of 1942 and was called to active duty in February of 1943. He passed qualifying exams and began training as an Air Corps Cadet at the Santa Ana air base in California. He “washed out” of pilot training and began training as a navigator in Texas and he graduated as an Air Navigator in January of 1944.
Mr. Nacey was sent to Europe where he completed 32 combat missions in B24 Liberator bombers with the 8th Air Forcewith the 8th Air Force. In September of 1945 he returned to the United States in preparation for being reassigned to the Pacific. He flew with the Military Transport Services, and helped move Occupation Forces from Okinawa to Atsugi Field near Tokyo. In January of 1946, he was assigned to Shanghai, China, to help establish transport routes in the area.
He returned to transport duty in June and in the following month decided to return to civilian life. He stayed in the Air Force Reserve, however. He was recalled to active duty on October 8th 1947. He married Jean Ellen [Burton] in January of 1948 and they started a family.
COL Nacey served a total of 32 years of active duty in the Air Force serving in 3 wars: WWII, Korea and Vietnam. During his service he rose to the rank of Colonel (COL). His service also included participation in the Berlin Airlift and fourteen years in Strategic Air Command operations and ten years in Joint Command in Europe, in the Pentagon, and as a faculty member at the Industrial College of the Armed Forces.
COL Nacey was decorated with the following::
- Legion of Merit,
- Distinguished Flying Cross,
- Joint Service Commendation Medal, -and-
- Humanitarian Service Medal (for participating in the Berlin Airlift).
Mr. Nacey died on August 30th 2013 at the age of 90 years. He is buried at the San Francisco National Cemetery.
Source(s): Hometown Heroes: The St. Louis County World War II Project. 215.
Albert J. Amatuzio Research Center | Veterans Memorial Hall (vets-hall.org)
Page 1 WWII Draft Registration Cards - Fold3
