John Clark Nichols
Military
Pilot-B-17 Tom King Collection
Personal Photo.
Object Number - UPL 38667 - LT. John Clark Nichols, 1941 Pilot-B-17
Lt John Nichols was pilot of B-17E-BO AC# 41-9090 transitioning to England from the United States on 27 June 1942 when it had to ditch near an island in Narsarsuaq Fjord, near Narsaq, in 1500ft of water, 35 miles SW of Bluie West One, Greenland. Nichols and the rest of the 12-man crew left uninjured and were brought safely to England. On a mission to Bizerte, Tunisia on 18 December 1942, he managed and survived the crash-landing of B-17 Serial 42-5715, shot down by German fighters over Tunisia. The Co-Pilot and three other crew members were killed. No Missing Air Crew Report for the loss of that Fortress. John Nichols stayed in the Air Force after the war and served in Korea and Viet-Nam, ending his military career as a Lieutenant Colonel.
Connections
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Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
![Ground personnel of the 97th Bomb Group reservice a B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 41-9023) nicknamed "Yankee Doodle", following the raid on Rouen. Image stamped on reverse: 'Associated Press.' [stamp], 'Passed for Publication 18 Aug 1942.' [stamp], 'Air=SER (Boeing).' [written annotation] and '216112.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'U.S FLYING FORTRESSES RAID ROUEN IN DAYLIGHT. Associated Press Photo Shows: No sooner had one of the huge Fortresses landed after the raid than ground crew im](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-379318.jpg.webp?itok=n7iztoxa)
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 97th Bomb Group 342nd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 16004238 at enlistment, then O-724118
- Highest Rank: Captain
- Role/Job: Bombardier
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 97th Bomb Group 342nd Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Sergeant (RAF)
- Role/Job: Radio Operator/Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 97th Bomb Group 342nd Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 97th Bomb Group 342nd Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Navigator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 97th Bomb Group 342nd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 14052214
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant (3rd Grade)
- Role/Job: waist gunner
Aircraft
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Born |
Muskogee, Oklahoma, United States | 3 September 1920 | the son of William and Margaret Caroline (Hansell) Nichols |
|
Enlisted |
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States | 17 July 1941 | as an Aviation Cadet in the Air Corps |
|
Died |
Suisun City, Calfornia, United States | 22 July 2004 | |
| Muskogee, Oklahoma, United States | |||
|
Buried |
Rockville Cemetery, Fairfield, California, United States |
Revisions
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / Losses of the 8th and 9th AF by Bishop and Hay p.15
