The Contrail Chronicles: An American Family's Journey Through War and Peace

by Dick Nelson

"Contrails" are those silvery white tracks left in the sky by the engine exhaust condensation of high-altitude aircraft. They show where the airborne traveler is going, as well as where he has been. They define the journey, conducted at high speed, where the air is thin and danger is always lurking. This was the harsh testing-ground for a father and his son, from a family of Swedish immigrants---unlikely participants in the armed conflicts that would consume the world in their respective lifetimes. The saga of the Nelson family contains joy and sorrow, triumph and tragedy, and ample quantities of humorous stories. It is a case study in how wars cut deeply into a family's heart and soul, and often destroy the bonds that normally exist. The book traces Wendel Nelson's idealistic quest to become a World War II fighter pilot and defend democracy from fascism. As an American volunteer in the RAF, his exploits range from the Battle of Britain to the North African campaign against Rommel, and then fighter sweeps into Europe in the final years of the war. His son, Dick, documents his experiences at the U.S. Naval Academy, Naval flight training, and the Vietnam air war. The impact of war on the families involved is described in poignant detail. The lifestyle of the modern combat pilot is described in both hilarious and sad episodes, where fiery death was always around the corner. This book also describes in detail the family's involvement with World War II, and its effect on Dick and his mother. The stories show the full impact of a war's lost sons and fathers on the families they leave behind. There are rarely happy endings in such stories---mostly, there are only lucky escapes at best. The reader should remember that war is about destruction, not creation; fear, as well as courage; and hatred, as well as love. It is a process of violent human extremes, and not for the squeamish. In hindsight, most wars seem easy to diagnose as caused by missteps, lapses in judgment, and hidden agendas. But for the immediate participants and decision-makers, the initiation of war always seems---at the time---to be warranted and necessary. Even when war is unavoidable for national survival, it is almost always permeated by a number of incompetent decisions, lack of leadership courage, and cynical motives. The wars that impacted the Nelsons---World War II and Vietnam---demonstrated war's cruel fallacies in many ways. Wars are normally not won in quick, bloodless victories. The winner is usually the one that makes the least mistakes along the way, and is still standing at the end. That is why the doctrine evolved by some of the greatest military strategists---from William Tecumseh Sherman to Colin Powell---advocated the immediate application of overwhelming force on the enemy to force resolution. Sherman wrote, "I want peace, and believe it can only be reached through union and war, and I will ever conduct war with a view to perfect and early success." From the swirling dog-fights of the Battle of Britain to the bloody skies over North Vietnam, the Nelsons put their lives on the line to serve the country they loved. Wendel lost his life in the last months of his war, when his P-51 Mustang was caught in a blinding snow storm. Twenty years later, Dick followed in his footsteps and became a Navy carrier pilot, flying the supersonic F-8E Crusader into combat from an aircraft carrier. He was lucky and survived that conflict, while many did not. Another aspect of war is its painful impact on the families that are swept up in its whirlwind of violence. The story begins with a young Swedish carpenter's classic search for a better life in America. Enjoy the journey!

308 pages, Paperback

First published August 26, 2010

About the author

Dick Nelson is a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy and a former Navy fighter pilot. During his combat service in Vietnam, flying the supersonic F-8E Crusader from an aircraft carrier, Nelson was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, thirteen Air Medals, the Navy Commendation Medal with Combat "V," the Vietnamese Gallantry Cross, and other decorations. After his Navy service, Nelson was a commercial pilot with Continental Airlines and then attended the UCLA School of Law. As a litigator of high-stakes cases in California, he specialized in the legal areas of employment, business and trade secrets. Moving to Florida in 2005, Nelson worked for the Dept. of Homeland Security. Now retired, Nelson is also the author of The Contrail Chronicles: An American Family's Journey Through War And Peace.

Reviews

[Sam · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was about a man's career in the US Navy. It begins with his early life, and descriptions of the father he does not really remember. There descriptions of his parent's early life together, and how they met, as well as his father's military life and career. It describes his relationship with his mother, and her breakdown after his father, also a pilot, dies in WW2.
The author clearly idolizes his father, and has extreme distaste for the man his mother remarried, as well as for the way she "fell apart" after the death of her husband in the war. He often speaks of his father in a "hero worship" manner in the book, and returns to his father's life and death very regularly.
The author also has distaste for the way that the Navy and superior officers conduct themselves during wartime, and the way they treat the soldiers afterward, which he backs up very well with facts as well as impassioned monologues.
I felt it hard to connect with this book. It was at times hard to read, as he spoke in "Navy" and used terms not familiar to the lay person. He also sprinkled the book with photos and pictures, but almost never described who or what they were. That would have been helpful and nice. Also, the writing was at times schizophrenic, jumping all over space and time, from person to person, or decade to decade, with nary a pause or explanation. I'm sure it makes sense to the author, but not to those unfamiliar with his life and experiences.
I feel with more descriptions, more explanations, and even noting what the "navy" terms mean (at least once), the book would be more readable and enjoyable.

[Bob Hinckley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great autobiography that takes the reader through Dick Nelson's early life.

After the poignant loss of his fighter pilot father in WWII, Nelson goes on to describe his childhood adventures in Sarasota, Florida. He is admitted to the U.S. Naval Academy which opens up and new chapter in his madcap existence while at that institution.

After graduation, Nelson goes on to tell us of his training as a Navy carrier pilot and subsequent duty as a fighter pilot flying the F-8 Crusader in Vietnam.

This book successfully captures what it was like to be a carrier pilot during the combat in Vietnam War. Nelson cuts no slack for the inept leadership that was so common during that time.

The fun part of this book was reading about the many capers that the young Dick Nelson either instigated or in which he participated.

Anyone who enjoys aviation or just a good American story will love this book.