First Lieutenant Jan Houston Nelson entered the U.S. Marine Corps from Florida and served in Marine Attack Squadron 311, Marine Air Group 13, 1st Marine Air Wing. On April 11, 1970, he piloted a single-seat A-4E Skyhawk (bureau number 15-2099) as the second of two aircraft on a mission against enemy targets southeast of Da Nang Air Base, South Vietnam. Once at the target area, the flight leader made a run on the target, followed by First Lieutenant Nelson. As the flight leader circled back to check his hits, he saw a fireball near the target in the vicinity of grid coordinates AT 821 661. The flight leader immediately tried to establish radio contact with First Lieutenant Nelson but was unsuccessful. He saw no parachute and detected no rescue beepers. A rescue team was inserted at the crash site and found some personal gear belonging to First Lieutenant Nelson, but no remains. He is still unaccounted for. Today, First Lieutenant Nelson is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific. 

Based on all information available, DPAA assessed the individual's case to be in the analytical category of Active Pursuit.

If you are a family member of this serviceman, DPAA can provide you with additional information and analysis of your case. Please contact your casualty office representative.