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| PERSONALIA |
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| Name: |
Nicolson, Eric James Brindley |
| Date of birth: | April 29th, 1917 (Hampstead, London, Great Britain)
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| Date of death: |
May 2nd, 1945 (Bay of Bengal)
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| Nationality: |
British |
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VICTORIA CROSS (VC)
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Rank:
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Flight Lieutenant
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Unit:
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249 Squadron, Royal Air Force
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Awarded on:
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November 25th, 1940
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Action:
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During a dogfight above Southampton, England, on 16 August 1940, a Messerschmitt110 shot Flight Lieutenant Nicolson’s Hurricane. Flight Lieutenant Nicolson was wounded in his eye and foot and his Hurricane was set on fire. Despite his wounds and awkward situation he was able to beat off an attack by a second Messerschmitt and he eventually managed to shot the second Messerschmitt down. After this action he bailed out his burning plane and landed safely, although he was severely wounded.
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Details:
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Later promoted to the rank of Wing-Commander.
Eric Nicolson was killed in action near the Bay of Bengal on 2 May 1945.
Flight Lieutenant Nicolson’s Victoria Cross is publicly displayed at the Royal Air Force Museum, Hendon, Great Britain.
Eric Nicolson is the only RAF fighter pilot who gained the Victoria Cross during the Second World War.
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