Blogs

Flight Lieutenant John Brindley Eric Nicolson pictured while recuperating in Torquay after being shot down in his Hurricane over Southampton on 15 August 1940. Photo Crown Copyright, RAF Air Historical Branch.

The Singapore Memorial, Kranji Commonwealth War Cemetery.

Flying from RAF Boscombe Down, Flt Lt JBE Nicolson was attacked in his Hurricane by Messerschmitt Bf109s over Southampton. Wounded in the left foot and with a perspex splinter through his left eyelid, Nicolson prepared to abandon his aircraft when a Bf110 appeared in front of him. Deciding to take advantage of being ideally placed behind this target, Nicolson slid back into his seat and fired at the enemy fighter.

With his cockpit in flames, his engine damaged, and receiving burns to his hands and face, he continued firing until it became impossible to remain. He baled out at 12,000 feet. Nicolson's burns were severe and his eyelid was all but severed; his wounded foot was becoming ever more painful. Near the ground he was fired on by Home Guard volunteers and wounded in the buttock by shotgun pellets.

Initially hospitalised in Southampton, where he was given 24hrs to live, he was later moved to the RAF Hospital Halton, before finishing his convalescence in Torquay, It was here that he heard that he’d been award the VC on 15 November 1940. A telegram to his wife in Yorkshire stated ‘Darling, just got VC. Don’t know why. Letter follows – all my love – Nick’.

Follow return to flying, Nicolson went on to be OC 27 Sqn in Burma, before being appointed Wing Commander (Training) at 3rd Tactical Air Force, Bengal. It was in this role that he was lost over the Sea of Bengal on 2 May 45, whilst observing in a Liberator. His body was never found and he is commemorated on one of the walls of the Singapore Memorial to those lost at the Kranji Commonwealth War Cemetery, Singapore.

Flt Lt Nicolson was a flight commander on 249 Sqn at RAF Boscombe Down in August 1940, part of Fighter Command’s 10 Group, which served the south west of England during the Battle of Britain.

Although playing host to 249 Sqn at the time of the battle, Boscombe Down continued to serve as the home to all flying Test & Evaluation, which had moved from RAF Martlesham Heath in September 1939. T&E is vital a role that QinetiQ is proud to deliver under the Long Term Partnering Agreement ensuring continuing support to the Air and Space Warfare Centre at MOD Boscombe Down.