Missing information?

Do you have any additional information you would like to share about a soldier?

Submit

Personal info

Full name
NICHOLS, James Oliver
Date of birth
4 May 1918
Age
25
Place of birth
Longwood, Pettis County, Missouri
Hometown
Longwood, Pettis County, Missouri

Military service

Service number
37239419
Rank
Sergeant
Function
Right Waist Gunner
Unit
614th Bombardment Squadron,
401st Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster,
Air Medal

Death

Status
Missing in Action
Date of death
4 February 1944
Place of death
Frankfurt am Main, Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
Walls of the Missing

Immediate family

Members
Robert W. Nichols (father)
Pearl M.(Younger) Nichols (mother)
Robert W. Nichols (brother)
Roy W. Nichols (brother)
John D. Nichols (brother)
Mildred Nichols (sister)
Kenneth Nichols (brother)
Betty L. Nichols (sister)

Plane data

Serial number
42-31036
Data
Type: B-17G
Nickname: Nobody´s Baby
Destination: Frankfurt am Main, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the railroad yards
MACR: 2285

More information

The aircraft was apparently hit by flak, was straggling some 4,000 feet lower than the formation (about 18,000 feet). All four engines were turning over and the aircraft seemed to be under control. Flak was bursting around it when it was last seen.

The entire crew of 10 men was killed. Eight of them are remembered at the Walls of the Missing at Margraten; Two, Frank J. Zitkovic and Bascom O. Clifton, are remembered at the Walls of the Missing at Cambridge Cemetery.

Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Janet Wear Enloe (niece of James O. Nichols), www.wwiimemorial.com, www.fold3.com - MACR , www.ancestry.com - Cooper Family Tree

Photo source: Peter Schouteten, Andy Swinnen