Earl Herbert Nichols
Military
Co-Pilot
Crew #421 - Eugene Godbout Crew 466th Bomb Group collection
466th BG Historian
Object Number - UPL 13124 - LT Earl H. Nichols Co-Pilot Crew #421 - Eugene Godbout Crew
Completed 30 B-24 missions. Mission #14 was D-Day June 6, 1944. September 23, 1944 was on mission to haul gas to France. Shot up over Ostend, returned to Ipwich and bailed out. 26 October, tour completed with 30th mission. Trained at Bigger AFB and Belfast Irl
DFC 1 Nov 1944, Air Medal with 3 Oak Clusters
Connections
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Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
Aircraft
Missions
Places
- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: Attlebridge Arsenal, Station 120
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Born |
Atlanta, Texas | 1 November 1922 | |
|
Died |
Houston, TX, USA | 28 April 2012 | Earl Hebert Nichols, age 89, was born on November 1, 1922 in Cass County, Texas and passed away peacefully into the loving arms of his Savior, Jesus Christ, on Saturday, April 28, 2012 in Houston, Texas. Earl was born to Jesse Whitaker and Emily Jane Davis Nichols, the youngest of 14 children. At the age of 17, he enlisted in the Air Force and served as a First Lieutenant in the 466th Bomber group, known as the Mighty 8th Air Force, stationed in Attlebridge, England. He flew 30 missions and earned the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal with three oak leaf clusters and Campaign Medal with 4 bronze service stars. Following the war, Earl enrolled in the University of Texas where he earned a business degree and met the love of his life, Louise Nichols, his wife of 61 years. After graduation he enjoyed a 33 year career in marketing and management with IBM. In each place they lived, they were active in the local Baptist church where Earl taught young adult Bible Study, as well as serve on various church boards. After retirement, he began ministering to incarcerated men at the Alcoa Prison Unit, teaching Bible Study and encouraging men to grow in their walk with the Lord. He was a part of the Prison Fellowship Ministry for over 15 years, teaching the Master Life Bible Study series in the various prisons in the surrounding Houstson area. He was a member of the Second Baptist Church where he was actively involved in the "Ticket to Heaven" Bible Study class. He also ministered in the Winning Walk TV Minsitry and the Prison Ministry at Second Baptist Church. Earl was an avid golfer, fisherman and reader. But primarily his passion was his love for his Lord and his family and friends. He was instrumental in keeping the family reunions going for over 23 years and made every effort to keep in touch with all of his sisters and brothers and their families over the years |
|
Buried |
US Houston National Cemetery, 10410 Veterans Memorial Drive, Houston, TX 77038, USA | 1 May 2012 | Houston National Cemetery Houston Harris County Texas, USA Plot: Sect U1, Site 1176 |
|
Enlisted |
Atlanta, TX, USA | 221 South Ogey Street |
Revisions
466th BG Archive - Report on Mission No. 151 - Gelsenkirchen, Germany 25 October 1944
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / self, Attlebridge Diaries by Woolnough, pp 125 and 137
