John Hamilton "Jack" Nicholls

RAF W/C

DFC

Born 20 March 1916 in Llanelli, South Wales.
Moved to Swansea and worked for the railroad.
Joined the RAF in 1940.
Finished OTU at Crosby-in-Eden.
Joined 130 Squadron late in 1941 as a Sergeant.
Commissioned early in 1942.
Flew off HMS Eagle for Malta on 18 May 1944 and posted to 601 Squadron.
601 fought over Malta a few months before moving to Egypt.
Promoted to F/O in December 1941.
Promoted to F/L in March 1943.
His DFC being Gazetted 2 April 1943.
Late in 1943 he was posted to 92 Sq. in Italy.
Posted back to 601 in March 1944 & was tour expired in July.
Then posted to 71 OTU, Ismalia as Chief Flying Instructor.

Jack (center) with two, as yet, unidentified pilots

Once "rested" he was sent back to Italy to command 244 Wing until October 1945.
Released from the RAF in 1946, he returned to the railway where he worked until his retirement in 1976.
Jack celebrated his 100th birthday recently. Happy Birthday Jack !
Unfortunately, I must report, Jack passed away on Sunday, New Years Day 2017. Bon voyage Jack.

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London Gazette

Tuesday, 6 April 1943, Second Supplement to the Gazette of 2 April

Distinguished Flying Cross

Flying Officer John Hamilton NICHOLLS (116982), Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, No. 601 Squadron.

No Citation

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Victories Include :

19 Oct 1942
29 Oct 1942
2 Nov 1942
30 Nov 1942
8 Dec 1942
10 Dec 1942

5 Mar 1943
28 Mar 1943
29 Mar 1943
7 Apr 1943
10 Oct 1943
28 Nov 1943

one MC202
one Me109
one MC202
one Me109
one Me109
one Me109

one MC202
1/2 Ju88
one Me109
one Ju88
1/5 Do217
one FW190

probable
destroyed [a]
damaged
destroyed
probable
destroyed

damaged
destroyed
damaged
destroyed
destroyed
destroyed

601 Sqn
"
"
"
"
"

92 Sqn
"
"
"
"
"

[a] Wolf-Dietrich Huy, 40 victories, KC with OL (POW)

5.7 / 2 / 3

Score from Aces High 2nd Ed.

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Daily Mirror photo

Jack Thanks Enemy Pilots For Hitting 100

In a recent article (6 April 2016) by Paul Horton that appeared in the Daily Mirror, Jack tells of an encounter off the coast of North Africa when he was attacked at 36,000[?] feet by two Me109s. He fell out of control but recovered at 2000 feet. The two Messerschmitt pilots flew along side of him, saluted and flew off. He managed to limp home and that is how he lived to be 100.

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Thanks go out to

Ivor & Jack for the photos & infos !

On these pages I use Hugh Halliday's extensive research which includes info from numerous sources; newspaper articles via the Canadian Museum of Civilization Corporation (CMCC); the Google News Archives; the London Gazette Archives and other sources both published and private.

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