Wiltshire-born NelsonWebb joined the RAF as an aircraft apprentice and trained as a wireless mechanic at Cranwell. On graduation in 1935 he joined 214 (B) Squadron equipped with the Vickers Virginia bomber. He immediately applied to be a gunner and started to draw 'crew pay'. Around 18 months later he was posted to Iraq where he joined 70 Squadron flying the Valencia from Hinaidi, near Baghdad. With almost 200 hours in his logbook, he applied to be a pilot and returned to England in late 1937 to begin conversion. Nelson gained his 'wings' in September 1938 and was promoted to sergeant with an "above average" assessment. After completing a navigation and reconnaissance course at Thorney Island in West Sussex, he was posted to 217 Squadron based at St Eval, Cornwall, arriving in May 1939, to fly the Anson.
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