Eric James Brindley Nicolson
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Wing Commander Eric James Brindley Nicolson VC DFC (29 April 1917 – 2 May 1945) was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.
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[edit] Early life
Eric James Brindley Nicolson was born in Hampstead, London in 1917, and was educated at Tonbridge School. In 1935 Nicolson began working as an engineer, and in 1936 he joined the RAF. After his training he joined 72 Squadron in 1937 and later moved to 249 squadron in 1940.
[edit] Details
He was 23 years old and a Flight Lieutenant in 249 Squadron, Royal Air Force during the Second World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.
On 16 August 1940 near Southampton, England, Flight Lieutenant Nicolson's Hurricane was fired on by a Messerschmitt Me 110, injuring the pilot in one eye and one foot. His engine was also damaged and the petrol tank set alight. As he struggled to leave the blazing machine he saw another Messerschmitt, and managing to get back into the bucket seat, pressed the firing button and continued firing until the enemy plane dived away to destruction. Not until then did he bail out, and he was able to open his parachute in time to land safely in a field. On his descent, he was fired on by excited Home Guard troops, who ignored his cry of being a RAF pilot.
Fully recovered by September 1941 in 1942 Nicolson was posted to India. Between August 1943 and August 1944 he was a Squadron Leader in Burma. He was killed on 2 May 1945 when a RAF B-24 Liberator from 355 Squadron, in which he was flying as an observer caught fire and crashed into the Bay of Bengal. His body was not recovered.
[edit] Further information
The only Battle of Britain pilot to be awarded the VC also has been listed as the only RAF fighter pilot to gain the award during the Second World War. He later achieved the rank of Wing Commander. However, Wing Commander Guy Gibson shot down three (some say four) German bombers as a night-fighter pilot early in the war, but of course that was well before his 617 Squadron tour. He flew Beaufighters in 29 Squadron [1].
Nicolson's Victoria Cross is displayed at the Royal Air Force Museum, Hendon, England.
[edit] References
- British VCs of World War 2 (John Laffin, 1997)
- Monuments to Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
- Nicolson VC : Full and Authorised Biography of James Brindley Nicolson (Peter D. Mason, 1991)
- Nicolson's Story: Story of James Brindley Nicolson, VC, DFC - One of the " Few" Killed in Action, 2nd May 1945 (Philip Wilkinson, 1993)
- The Register of the Victoria Cross (This England, 1997)
- James Brindley Nicolson
