Flight Lieutenant James Nicolson VC


Hurricane

This print was presented to Corhampton Golf Club by Bill Jasper, a past Club and Seniors Section Captain.

On August 16th 1940, 23 year old Flight Lieutenant James Nicolson, a Yorkshireman of No 29 Squadron was scrambled from Boscombe Down flying Hurricane P3576 of Red Section with Squadron Leader Eric King and Pilot Officer Martyn King.

The pilots were to intercept and attack BF110’s approaching Southampton from Gosport. While over Corhampton Down, the fighters were attacked by a Staffel of Messerschmitt BF110s. All three Hurricanes were damaged.

Squadron Leader King managed to return to Boscombe Down and Pilot Officer King bailed out.

Four cannon shells hit Nicolson’s aircraft. One destroyed the Perspex canopy and injured his left eye temporarily blinding him with blood.  The reserve petrol tank was also struck along with his left leg. The Hurricane was now ablaze with the instrument panel melting, his hands badly blistered from the heat and his trousers alight.

As he prepared to bale out, a BF110 appeared in front of him. He slid back into the cockpit and chased the enemy plane. Closing in, Nicolson opened fire and sent the German plane crashing into the sea.

Finally baling out of his stricken aircraft, Nicolson sustained severe burns to his left hand, part of his face, his eyelid was torn and his foot badly wounded.

His problems were not over as the Home Guard mistook him for a German paratrooper and he ended up with shotgun pellet wounds as well.

His bravery and disregard for his own life earned him the Victoria Cross, which was awarded on 15th November 1940.  This was the only VC awarded to a fighter pilot during the war.

Tragically, he went missing while flying as an observer in a Liberator over the Bay of Bengal on 2nd May 1945.