William Arthur Nicholls
MilitaryWilliam Nicholls was Bombardier on B-17 #42-30816 on the 11 December 1943 mission to Emden, Germany. Was inside the ship when it crash-landed near Warfhuizen, 25km NW of Groningen, Noord Holland, The Netherlands. Captured and made a Prisoner of War (POW). He was later a Major in the USAF Reserve.
In 1983 he was Vice-President of the 385th BG Association.
Connections
See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.
Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
![A bomber crew of the 385th Bomb Group with their B-17 Flying Fortress. Image stamped on reverse: 'Planet News.' [stamp], 'Passed for publication 6 Nov 1943.' [stamp] and '291701.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: Printed caption on reverse: 'US AIRFORCE IN GREAT DAYLIGHT OFFENSIVE ON EUROPE. The great daylight offensive on Europe continues, targets in Germany, France and Belgium being attacked by great formations of bombers and fighters from the US Army Air Force and the RAF. Photo shows: Before t](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-380140.jpg.webp?itok=3DyNylCs)
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 385th Bomb Group 551st Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 35333547
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Radio Operator/Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 385th Bomb Group 551st Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 11046233
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Tail Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 385th Bomb Group 551st Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 31155161
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Waist Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 385th Bomb Group 551st Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 17020292
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 385th Bomb Group 551st Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 31078295
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Waist Gunner
Aircraft
![First Lieutenant Lyle Fryer of the 385th Bomb Group with his B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed "Mary Ellen III". Passed for publication 28 Sep 1943. Printed caption on reverse: 'Youth Of The Flying Fortresses. USP/224I-200-201. L/Lt.[sic] Lyle Fryer, of Rochester, Minn., pilot of the Fortress "Mary Ellen III", awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for "extraordinary achievement" during a bombing mission over Germany recentl. Lt. Fryer is only 22 years of age, and has already been awarded the Air Medal for "](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-413608.jpg.webp?itok=3_slaH10)
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Mary Ellen III
- Unit: 385th Bomb Group 551st Bomb Squadron
Missions
![Personnel of the 94th Bomb Group at a mission briefing. A censor has obscured the maps and charts in the background. Image stamped on reverse: 'Associated Press'[stamp],'Passed for publication 14 December 1943.'[stamp] '296691.'[Censor no] Printed caption on reverse: 'Operations Room at US Air Base. Preparing for take off. Associated Press photo shows: Col.F. W. Castle, Group Commanding Officer, gives the massed crews of the base the last part of the briefing, and a personal 'Godspeed' and 'Good Luck' in](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-408449.jpg.webp?itok=nKEJNh_9)
- Date: 11 December 1943
Places
- Site type: Airfield
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Born |
9 September 1919 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States | |
|
Enlisted |
2 February 1942 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | |
|
Other Prisoner of War (POW) |
11 December 1943 | NARA WWII POW record : “ '9 March 1944’… Interned at Stalag Luft 1, Barth, Germany. Returned to Military Control ’12 June 1946’.” | |
|
Other Discharged |
25 November 1945 | (according to his Veterans Affairs BIRLS Death File) | |
|
Died |
23 December 2006 | Atco, New Jersey | |
| Woodbury, Gloucester County, New Jersey | |||
| Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | |||
|
Buried |
William Nicholls rests at the Brig. Gen. William C. Doyle Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Arneytown, New Jersey |
Revisions
MACR 1664
NARA WWII enlistment records
NARA WWII POW records
WWII Draft card
Dutch page at http://zuurdiek.nl/1943-vliegend-fort-mary-ellen-iii-neergestort/
Veterans Affairs BIRLS Death File
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 1664 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database