Memorial

More information

2nd Lt Darwin Nichols joined the Air Corps of the U.S. Army Reserve at Portland Airbase, Oregon on 8 October 1942.

Eyewitness account from Robert B. Danielson, 37484032.
"I was flying as tail gunner on Aircraft No. 43-38428, which was in No 3 position, high squadron, low lead, on a mission to Ruhland, Germany, 12 September 1944. The plane piloted by Lt Lopert was flying in the last element, low box. I saw his plane attacked heavily by fighters. It slid off to the left, losing altitude. Two parachutes opened. Right after that the aircraft exploded."

Seven crew members survived and were taken prisoner. One crew member was killed in the crash.

2nd Lt Darwin R. Nichols was captured at Proetzel near Strausberg, Germany by members of the Luftwaffe on 12 September 1944 at 1220hrs.

According to statements of surviving crew members, he was held in a prison in Giessen and probably killed in a escape attempt after he jumped of a slow moving train near Frankfurt on the way to Dulag Luft. He was shot and fell in the Lahn river. He was identified in June 1945.

Actually, 2nd Lt Nichols was killed in the prison of Giessen on 27 March 1945. He was taken out with his hands tied and shot, just one day before American forces came into the town and liberated the prison. He body was dumped into the Lahn River and found several weeks later. There was a war crimes trial for his murder.