• Operation Chastise (Dambusters Raid)

Date of birth:

February 15th, 1923 (Newcastle on Tyne, United Kingdom)

Date of death:

September 15th, 1943 (North Sea)

Mentioned on:

Air Forces Memorial Runnymede

Service number:

1144183

Nationality:

British

Vivian Nicholson, born on 15 February 1923 in Newcastle on Tyne, was the eldest of eight sons of Arthur and Elizabeth Nicholson from Sherburn, Co Durham. He worked as an apprentice in his family's joinery business before enlisting in the RAF at the outbreak of war.

Sent to Canada under the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan, Nicholson completed part of his training in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, where the USA supported Allied training efforts prior to joining the war. After returning to England, he was posted to 10 OTU at RAF St Eval, Cornwall, in September 1942.

In January 1943, Nicholson moved to RAF Swinderby, joining 1660 Conversion Unit. However, on 23 February 1943, his time with 207 Squadron ended tragically when a crew member was killed. A month later, the crew was reassigned to 97 Squadron under David Maltby before transferring to 617 Squadron on 25 March 1943.

Nicholson received the DFM for his role in the Dams Raid.

On 14 September 1943, Nicholson took off from RAF Coningsby on 617 Squadron's first major mission since the Dams Raid. Tragically, his aircraft crashed, sinking with the bodies of the entire crew except the pilot. Nicholson has no known grave and is remembered for his service.

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• Photo 1: Findagrave
• - CWGC
  - https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/36030/supplement/2362/data.pdf
  - Dambusters

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