Eric James Brindley Nicolson (VC, DFC) was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.

Details

He was 23 years old, and a Flight Lieutenant in the 249 Squadron, Royal Air Force during the Second World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.

On 16 August 1940 near Southampton, England, Flight Lieutenant Nicolson's Hurricane was fired on by a Messerschmitt 110, injuring the pilot in one eye and one foot. His engine was also damaged and the petrol tank set alight. As he struggled to leave the blazing machine he saw another Messerschmitt, and managing to get back into the bucket seat, pressed the firing button and continued firing until the enemy plane dived away to destruction. Not until then did he bale out, and when he landed in a field, he was unable to release his parachute owing to his badly burned hands.

He was killed in action at Bay of Bengal, on 2 May 1945.

Further information

The only Battle of Britain VC also has been listed as the only RAF fighter pilot to gain the award during the Second World War. He later achieved the rank of Wing Commander. However, Wing Commander Guy Gibson shot down three (some say four) German bombers as a night-fighter pilot early in the war, but of course that was well before his 617 Squadron tour. (He flew Beaufighters in 29 Squadron. Here's a link http://www.raf.mod.uk/history/29Sqn3.html )

Nicolson's Victoria Cross is displayed at the Royal Air Force Museum (Hendon, England).

Reference

• British VCs of World War 2 (John Laffin, 1997)
• Monuments To Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
• (Peter D. Mason, 1991)
• (Philip Wilkinson, 1993)
• The Register of the Victoria Cross (This England, 1997)

External links

• Fl. Lieutenant James Nicolson

This page has been migrated from the Victoria Cross Reference with permission.