Nichols, Erikson S.

In 1938 he met Madeline Hechenbleikner of Charlotte at an air show in Dayton Ohio They were married for 45 years until her death in 1982

At the outbreak of World War II he was 2nd in command of Clark Field in Manila the Philippines. While in the Philippines, he saw considerable service and was in the thick
of the Japanese bombing and machine sun fire. Before the U.S. surrender, Lieutenant Nichols was sent to Australia.
Enroute, the plane in which he was
flying was shot down, all escaped unhurt and continued on in another plane to Australia.

He served in the South Pacific commanding a bomber squadron and was on General MacArthur’s staff in Australia.

Colonel Nichols Flew Home From Australia for Holidays

COMMANDERS. Lt Col Erickson S Nichols, 12 Nov 1942

374th TROOP CARRIER GROUP Constituted as 374th Troop Carrier Group on 7 Nov 1942 and activated in Australia on 12 Nov. Assigned to Fifth AF. Transported men and materiel in the theater from Nov 1942 until after the war, operating from Australia, New Guinea, Biak, and the Philippines. Used war-weary and worn-out aircraft, including B-18’s, C-39’s, C-4gYs, C-56’s, Mo’s, DC-3’S, and DC-$s, until equipped with C-47’s in Feb 1943. Engaged in supplying Allied forces in the Papuan Campaign, receiving one DUC for these missions, and being awarded another DUC for transporting troops and equipment to Papua and evacuating casualties to rear areas, Nov-Dec 1942. Received third DUC for transporting men and supplies over the Owen Stanley Range, 30 Jan+ Feb 1943, to aid the small force defending the airdrome at Wau, New Guinea. Participated in the first airborne operation in the Southwest Pacific on 5 Sep 1943, dropping paratroops at Nadzab, New Guinea, to seize enemy bases and cut inland supply routes. Other operations included evacuating wounded personnel, flying courier routes, making passenger flights, and helping to move the 11th Division from Luzon to Okinawa in Aug 1945 for staging to Japan.

CAMPAIGNS. World War II: Air Offensive, Japan; Papua; New Guinea; Northern Solomons; Bismarck Archipelago; Western Pacific; Leyte; Luzon.

Following the war Colonel Nichols was In command of the New York Air National Guard 52nd Flight Wing. Later he was stationed in South America at Buenos Aires Bogota Ecuador and Havana Cuba. He retired after 40 years of commissioned service.

Colonel Erickson Snowden Nichols 95 died on Wednesday November 22 2000 at the Stewart Health Center The Cypress

Since the mid 1960’s he lived in Charlotte and was a member of Myers Park Baptist Church and an honorary member of Charlotte Country Club. In 1986 he married Jane Ellen Norman who survived him and they spent their summers in Linville North Carolina at Grandfather Golf and Country Club.

Other survivors included nephews Norman C Nichols of Atlanta GA and Chester B Nichols of Tacoma WA as well as stepsons James T Norman Thomas E Norman David T Norman and Richard C Norman Col Nichols was also survived by his brother-in-law Dr Herbert Hechenbleikner and his family of Charlotte.

A memorial service for Col Nichols was held on Friday November 24 2000 at Myers Park Baptist Church with The Reverend Dr H Stephen Shoemaker and The Reverend Dr R Eugene Owens officiating

A private burial was held at Belmont Abbey Cemetery where his first wife was interred.

COMMANDERS. Lt Col Erickson S Nichols, 12 Nov 1942