William Neville Nickles
1946
Charleston, SC
Army Air Force, 2nd Lieutenant
408th Bomber Squadron, 22nd Bomb Group (Heavy)
Air Medal, Purple Heart -- Citation on the Air Medal: “For meritorious achievement while participating in sustained operational flight missions in the Southwest Pacific area from 23 April, 1945 to 4 June, 1945, during which hostile contact was probable and expected. These operations consisted of bombing missions against enemy airdromes and installations and attacks on naval vessels and shipping. The courage and devotion to duty displayed during these flights reflect great credit on the United States Army Air Reserves.”
Jan 31, 1922
Jun 22, 1945
Killed in Action - Luzon (Philippines)
Memorialized at Manila American Cemetery in Fort Bonifacio, Manila, Philippines and Greenville Presbyterian Cemetery near Hodges SC.
NE
Additional Information
MARC #: 14674 Aircraft Model: B-24 D; S/N#: 44-41647 Organization: Location: Clark Field, Philippines Command: Group: 408th Bomb Squadron: 22nd Bomb Group(H) Place of departure: Clark Field, Philippines Target or Intended Destination: Toshien, Formosa Type of Mission: Strike Date: 22 June 1945 Time: 1045 Location of Crash: While taking off Clark Field (Unable to make out) Number of Person Aboard Aircraft– Crew: 10 Passengers: 1 Total: 11List of Crew (crew positions, name, rank, status) 2nd Lt. Nickles, Wiliam (Pilot) 2nd Lt. Ricks (Co-Pilot) 2nd Lt. Istanish, Albert (Navigator) 2nd Lt. Shanks, Nelson S. (Bombardier) T/Sgt. Hedge, Tellie H. Jr. (Engineer) Cpl. Jensen, Richard L. (Asst Engineer) Cpl. Schott, Joseph P. (Asst Operator) Cpl. Ritonia, Arthur (Radio Operator) Cpl. Barteau, Arthur M. (Gunner) Pfc. Lann, Seymour S. (Gunner) 2nd Lt. Hodous, Ernest (Radio Secretary Officer)
Narrative or eye witness statements
A through search was performed for 2nd Lt. Nickles aircraft but it was never found. There is no knowledge of what caused the crash.
Related Images Click to Enlarge
Black Mountain News 6/3/2010 "Receiving a letter in the mail"
EPSON scanner image
Nickles' Crew: Officers left to right: Pilot: William Neville Nickles, pilot, Charleston, SC Co-pilot: 2nd Lt. William A. Ricks, Guyton, GA Navigator: 2nd Lt. Albert Istanish, Williamsburg, VA Bomber: 2nd Lt. Nelson S. Shanks, Millboro, VA E.M. Left to Right Engineer: N.M. Mella, Lodi, NJ R.0.: Cpl Arthur F. Ritonia, Millwaukee, WI. Nose: Pfc Seymour S. Lamm, Long Island, NY Martin: Cpl Joseph P. Schott Jr., Chicago, IL Tail: Cpl Richard L. Jensen, Portland OR Ball: Cpl Arthur M. Barteau, Staten Island, NY Base Photo Taken on 20 Dec. 1944, Tonopah Army Air Field, Tonopah Nevada. All but one in picture (engineer) were killed in final voyage in spring, 1945
