F/Lt James Nicolson VC

Chadders

Perhaps you’d like to contact me at [email]andy.saunders@britainatwar.com[/email] ?

Sabrejet,

Pardon my intrusion on this subject, but I am interested in one of the casualties from the Hudson, PO Whittle, who, incidentally, was 27 when he died.

I am a member of the local family history society and PO Whittle was a ‘local boy’ and is buried in North Manchester General Cemetery. Unfortunately his grave has fallen into a state of disrepair and the CWGC headstone broken. I have been in correspondence with the GWGC over twelve months ago regarding this. They Originally replaced his headstone, but the usual badge of the RAF was incorrectly replaced by that of the Royal Engineers. They have undertaken to, again, replace the headstone with the correct badge.

It was during my research on PO Whittle that I became aware of the circumstances of his death, and, as he seems to be now largely forgotten in the community, I thought a short article regarding the tragic events, for our journal might interest it’s readers. Interestingly the original headstone stated he died on 14th August, whilst the (incorrect) replacement states 15th August and above you quote 17th August. Any info you could feel able to pass on to me would be gratefully appreciated, and acknowledged, should the subsequent article be published.

Sorry

Here is the picture!

Memorial Flight

I found this picture!

Didn’t the BBMF’s Hurricane IIc LF363 wear Nicholsons colours as GN-A and earlier Tom Neil’s GN-F? Both schemes were very similar and looked very authentic. LF363 was painted as GN-A when it crashed at Wittering in September 1991.

No enigma. Malcolm Timms painting was based upon the assumption that Robert Taylor had got it right. He hadn’t.

The sky spinner photo is post Battle of Britain and Nov/Dec 1940.

The black spinner is BofB period at North Weald.

Nicolsons Hurricane

Adding to the enigma –
Peter D Masons book ‘Nicolson VC’ has a cover colour depiction (by M Timms)of his Hurricane with GN*A on the starboard side with a red fin flash right to the leading edge. Black spinner. Inside are two photos of Hurricanes belonging to 249 Sqd – one with a sky spinner, the other with a black one. Both are nose-type shots so no other details are visible.
Billbattle

Sky undersurfaces without roundels were introduced on Hurricanes from early June 1940 (6/6/40). Roundels were not applied at the factory officially until 1st August. In practice these were then added at unit level to existing airframes but would have been somewhat sporadic at first so there is no 100% certainty (without a photo) if Nicolsons aircraft would have had them applied by 17 August although officially it should have had them by then.

Again, officially the spinner was Night and would have been when the aircraft reached 249 Sqdn, however it was not uncommon to use Sky or Eau-de-nil (or even white) at unit level to distinguish a particular aircraft or Flight. Photographic reference to this aircraft or others at the same time/place would be needed to determine this although I have seen profiles of other 249 Sqdn aircraft with a pale spinner.

PS: The all red fin leading edge is often a good indicator of a Gloster built Hurricane as they seemed to have applied fin markings consistantly like this throughout 1940 – although like everything concerning this business its indicative rather than the rule!

I have no idea what is right or wrong, here.

I suspect very much, though, that it would have underwing roundels.

While we are at it…..what shade of Sky Type S is that? Or is it eau de nil…..oh…never mind!:diablo:

Underwing Roundels

Hello Tangmere,
Thank you very much for your comments.

Well Corgi does not show underwing roundels but Robert Taylor’s work shows.
Best Regards.

I suspect luck has nothing whatsoever to do with it. A lifetime immersed in the lives and careers of these men, and I imagine a genuine good-heartedness, has endeared Tangmere to these men in an atmosphere of mutual respect. I reckon Tangmere has an ability, maybe even a talent, for putting these men at their ease and listening to them in a way that makes them want to share their stories.

And a bloody good job he can too.

regards,

kev35

Blimey Kev! I’m blushing already…!

You obviously got the cheque, then?! 😉

I still haven’t forgotten things for you Kev….my “To Do” list gets longer and I get more overwhelmed by it and ashamed at not being able to get on top of it all. Mark 12 is in the queue, too, so you are in good company! Really must focus on one thing at a time….!!

I withdraw the remark I made in this post on the grounds that I don’t want to spoil this thread.

Regards,

kev35

You must feel honoured knowing these guys…….your a lucky man.

I suspect luck has nothing whatsoever to do with it. A lifetime immersed in the lives and careers of these men, and I imagine a genuine good-heartedness, has endeared Tangmere to these men in an atmosphere of mutual respect. I reckon Tangmere has an ability, maybe even a talent, for putting these men at their ease and listening to them in a way that makes them want to share their stories.

And a bloody good job he can too.

regards,

kev35

I suspect the leading edge red on the fin extended all the way forward. Possibly/probably.

What are the problems with the underwing roundels?

Nicolson VC

Chaps,
Thank you very much for your answers.

So Corgi made a mistake with the colour of the spinner, what about the fin stripes and the roundels of the lower surface (wings)?

Tangmere 1940,
Do you have a picture of the noseart (the red devil)?

Best Regards.

..he just looks so young…..humbling….

I have a picture up here in the study of Flt Lt. Richard “Dickie” Lee and other 85 Squadron pilots posing with beers in front of a Hurricane, 6 pilots in the picture, combined age probably no more than 130 years at the time, and I’m moaning at work because my boss is wanting me to do more costings and financial controls. As you say, very humbling.

..he just looks so young…..humbling….

He was!

And he still is very young at heart. A lovely man.

He has a road named after him in Shoreham By Sea, with a little plaque mentioning more about him, i assume its still there i havent been into Shoreham for a while.

Although I actually commissioned the Taylor painting I would not, if I were a betting man, have money on the accuracy of the fuselage lettering!

This is “Ginger” Neil in front of what I suspect to be Nicolson’s “A”. In fact, looking at other 249 Sqn images I am as certain as I can be that this was the way the lettering was ordered – on the port side reading A-GN. It is why Corgi produced the model the way they did – and then got rubbished for “getting it wrong”. All they got wrong was the sky spinner.

There was also a little red devil emblem in a white disc ahead of the cockpit which often gets overlooked.

Small world… I was only ready about F/Lt James Nicolson VC last night as all the roads on the estate on which I live are named after aircrew who were awarded VC’s.

Other streets include Mannock Way, Hawker Close, Esmonde Drive, Gibson Way, Bishop Close and a few which have slipped my mind. The estate is built on an old RAF Comms base but i doubt if many residents know the stories behind their street names.