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name
NICHOLS, Richard Strahl - Date of
birth
25 September 1922 -
Age
23 - Place of
birth
Syracuse, Onondaga County, New York -
Hometown
Syracuse, Onondaga County, New York
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O-819149 -
Rank
Second Lieutenant -
Function
Pilot -
Unit
365th Bombardment Squadron,
305th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster
Death
-
Status
Finding of Death - Date of
death
15 October 1945 - Place of
death
Flittard, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten - Walls of the Missing
Immediate family
-
Members
Matthew S. Nichols (father)
Clara V. (Strahl) Nichols (mother)
Maryclair Nichols (sister)
Eleanor J. Nichols (sister)
Arlene H. Nichols (sister)
Wayne M. Nichols (brother)
Donald P. Nichols (brother)
William L. Nichols (brother)
Plane data
- Serial
number
43-38066 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Destination: Cologne, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the marshalling yard
MACR: 9474
More information
The incident took place on 14 October 1944.Aircraft 43-38066 collided in mid-air with aircraft 43-38108, probably caused by #108 being caught in the propwash. #066 was chewed up completely. The propellers of the other airplane cut through the radio room.
Eight crew members were killed, one survived and was taken prisoner.
2nd Lt Nichols was officially declared dead one day and one year after he was reported missing in action.
Source of information: Peter Schouteten, Raf Dyckmans, www.wwiimemorial.com www.fold3.com - MACR, www.ancestry.com - Family Trees
Photo source: Peter Schouteten, Daniel Bon