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.