John B. Nichols
Encyclopedia
John Bennett Nichols, III (September 28, 1931-June 17, 2004) was a United States Navy
aviator
and author.
Raised in Hialeah, Florida
, Nichols enlisted in the United States Army
and served as a combat medic
during the Korean War
. After attending college he was accepted for NavCad training and commissioned in 1957. Originally he flew the North American
FJ-4 Fury
but shortly thereafter he flew the Vought
F-8 Crusader
, the aircraft that defined his professional career.
Nichols joined Fighter Squadron 62 (VF-62) and adopted the callsign "Pirate." He also became a landing signal officer
as well as a flight and tactics instructor. In the latter capacity he was one of the founding members of the Naval Fighter Weapons School that evolved into "Topgun
."
During the Vietnam War
Nichols made three Tonkin Gulf deployments between 1967 and 1973, flying from the aircraft carriers and .
On his first combat deployment, assigned to VF-191
, Nichols was wingman to LCDR
Michael Estocin, who posthumously received the Medal of Honor
for actions in April 1967. On the following deployment Nichols destroyed one of two North Vietnamese MiG-17s that were attacking an RF-8 reconnaissance plane. He later commanded VF-24
during the closing days of the war
in 1973. At the end of his naval career, he was one of only five pilots to log over 3,000 hours in the demanding Crusader.
Upon retirement in 1975, Nichols entered the real estate business in Southern California
and wrote occasionally. The first of his two books was a combination memoir and analysis titled On Yankee Station (1987). Warriors, a novel about a Mideast air war, was released shortly before Operation Desert Storm
in 1990. Both were written with his friend Barrett Tillman
.
On Yankee Station was well received in military aviation circles, and was added to the Air Force and Marine Corps professional reading lists. Ironically, it was not selected for a Navy readership though at least one carrier air wing took copies to Operation Desert Storm
in 1990-91.
Nichols returned to Florida and settled in Melbourne
with his wife Jacqueline. There he died of cancer at age 72, survived his three children, John IV, Gray and Leigh from a previous marriage, his wife, and two step daughters. Nichols is also survived by his brothers, James and Steve Nichols and sisters, Fran Brady and Dorothy Battaglia.
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
aviator
Aviator
An aviator is a person who flies an aircraft. The first recorded use of the term was in 1887, as a variation of 'aviation', from the Latin avis , coined in 1863 by G. de la Landelle in Aviation Ou Navigation Aérienne...
and author.
Raised in Hialeah, Florida
Hialeah, Florida
Hialeah is a city in Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 226,419. As of 2009, the population estimate by the U. S...
, Nichols enlisted in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
and served as a combat medic
Combat medic
Combat medics are trained military personnel who are responsible for providing first aid and frontline trauma care on the battlefield. They are also responsible for providing continuing medical care in the absence of a readily available physician, including care for disease and battle injury...
during the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
. After attending college he was accepted for NavCad training and commissioned in 1957. Originally he flew the North American
North American Aviation
North American Aviation was a major US aerospace manufacturer, responsible for a number of historic aircraft, including the T-6 Texan trainer, the P-51 Mustang fighter, the B-25 Mitchell bomber, the F-86 Sabre jet fighter, the X-15 rocket plane, and the XB-70, as well as Apollo Command and Service...
FJ-4 Fury
FJ Fury
The North American FJ-2/-3 Fury were a series of swept-wing carrier-capable fighters for the United States Navy and Marine Corps. Based on the United States Air Force's F-86 Sabre, these aircraft featured folding wings, and a longer nose landing strut designed to both increase angle of attack upon...
but shortly thereafter he flew the Vought
Vought
Vought is the name of several related aerospace firms. These have included, in the past, Lewis and Vought Corporation, Chance Vought, Vought Sikorsky, LTV Aerospace , Vought Aircraft Companies, and the current Vought Aircraft Industries. The first incarnation of Vought was established by Chance M...
F-8 Crusader
F-8 Crusader
The Vought F-8 Crusader was a single-engine, supersonic, carrier-based air superiority jet aircraft built by Vought for the United States Navy and the U.S. Marine Corps, replacing the Vought F7U Cutlass...
, the aircraft that defined his professional career.
Nichols joined Fighter Squadron 62 (VF-62) and adopted the callsign "Pirate." He also became a landing signal officer
Landing signal officer
Landing Signal Officers are naval aviators specially trained to facilitate the "safe and expeditious recovery" of naval aircraft aboard aircraft carriers. Originally LSOs were responsible for bringing aircraft aboard ship using hand signals...
as well as a flight and tactics instructor. In the latter capacity he was one of the founding members of the Naval Fighter Weapons School that evolved into "Topgun
United States Navy Fighter Weapons School
The United States Navy Strike Fighter Tactics Instructor program , more popularly known as TOPGUN, is the modern-day evolution of the United States Navy Fighter Weapons School which was originally established on March 3, 1969 at the former Naval Air Station Miramar in California...
."
During the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
Nichols made three Tonkin Gulf deployments between 1967 and 1973, flying from the aircraft carriers and .
On his first combat deployment, assigned to VF-191
VF-191
VF-191 or Fighter Squadron 191 of the United States Navy was established in 1943 and disestablished in 1978. A second squadron, bearing the same designation was established for a short time again between 1986 and 1988.-History:...
, Nichols was wingman to LCDR
Lieutenant Commander
Lieutenant Commander is a commissioned officer rank in many navies. The rank is superior to a lieutenant and subordinate to a commander...
Michael Estocin, who posthumously received the Medal of Honor
Medal of Honor
The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed by the President, in the name of Congress, upon members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her...
for actions in April 1967. On the following deployment Nichols destroyed one of two North Vietnamese MiG-17s that were attacking an RF-8 reconnaissance plane. He later commanded VF-24
VF-24
VF-24 Fighter Squadron 24, called the Fighting Renegades was a fighter squadron of the United States Navy.-Background:Fighter Squadron 24 was originally commissioned as Fighter Squadron 211 in June 1955 at NAS Moffett Field. The unit flew the FJ-3 Fury aboard the . The squadron transitioned to the...
during the closing days of the war
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
in 1973. At the end of his naval career, he was one of only five pilots to log over 3,000 hours in the demanding Crusader.
Upon retirement in 1975, Nichols entered the real estate business in Southern California
Southern California
Southern California is a megaregion, or megapolitan area, in the southern area of the U.S. state of California. Large urban areas include Greater Los Angeles and Greater San Diego. The urban area stretches along the coast from Ventura through the Southland and Inland Empire to San Diego...
and wrote occasionally. The first of his two books was a combination memoir and analysis titled On Yankee Station (1987). Warriors, a novel about a Mideast air war, was released shortly before Operation Desert Storm
Gulf War
The Persian Gulf War , commonly referred to as simply the Gulf War, was a war waged by a U.N.-authorized coalition force from 34 nations led by the United States, against Iraq in response to Iraq's invasion and annexation of Kuwait.The war is also known under other names, such as the First Gulf...
in 1990. Both were written with his friend Barrett Tillman
Barrett Tillman
Barrett Tillman is an American author who specializes in naval and aviation topics in addition to fiction and technical writing.Tillman's most influential book to date is On Yankee Station , written with the late John B. Nichols...
.
On Yankee Station was well received in military aviation circles, and was added to the Air Force and Marine Corps professional reading lists. Ironically, it was not selected for a Navy readership though at least one carrier air wing took copies to Operation Desert Storm
Gulf War
The Persian Gulf War , commonly referred to as simply the Gulf War, was a war waged by a U.N.-authorized coalition force from 34 nations led by the United States, against Iraq in response to Iraq's invasion and annexation of Kuwait.The war is also known under other names, such as the First Gulf...
in 1990-91.
Nichols returned to Florida and settled in Melbourne
Melbourne, Florida
Melbourne is a city in Brevard County, Florida, United States. As of 2009, the population estimated by the U.S. Census Bureau is 78,323. The municipal area is the second largest by size and by population in the county. Melbourne is a principal city of the Palm Bay – Melbourne – Titusville, Florida...
with his wife Jacqueline. There he died of cancer at age 72, survived his three children, John IV, Gray and Leigh from a previous marriage, his wife, and two step daughters. Nichols is also survived by his brothers, James and Steve Nichols and sisters, Fran Brady and Dorothy Battaglia.
Further Reading
- On Yankee Station by John B. Nichols (with Barrett TillmanBarrett TillmanBarrett Tillman is an American author who specializes in naval and aviation topics in addition to fiction and technical writing.Tillman's most influential book to date is On Yankee Station , written with the late John B. Nichols...
), Naval Institute Press, 1987, ISBN 1557504954 - Warriors by John B. Nichols (with Barrett TillmanBarrett TillmanBarrett Tillman is an American author who specializes in naval and aviation topics in addition to fiction and technical writing.Tillman's most influential book to date is On Yankee Station , written with the late John B. Nichols...
), Bantam BooksBantam BooksBantam Books is an American publishing house owned entirely by Random House, the German media corporation subsidiary of Bertelsmann; it is an imprint of the Random House Publishing Group. It was formed in 1945 by Walter B. Pitkin, Jr., Sidney B. Kramer, and Ian and Betty Ballantine...
, 1990, ISBN 0553287354 - Fast Movers by John Darrell Sherwood, St. Martin's PressSt. Martin's PressSt. Martin's Press is a book publisher headquartered in the Flatiron Building in New York City. Currently, St. Martin's Press is one of the United States' largest publishers, bringing to the public some 700 titles a year under eight imprints, which include St. Martin's Press , St...
, 2001, ISBN 0312979622