Charles A. Nichols was born on November 15, 1915, in Sacramento County, California. He was the son of Walter Roy Nichols and Nettie May Allen Nichols. He served in the 368th Bomber Squadron, 306th Bomber Group, Heavy, as a Technical Sergeant and radio operator gunner of B-17 #42-30782 “Rationed Passion” during World War II.

On January 11, 1944, his plane was shot down by fighters on a mission to Halberstadt. TSgt. Nichols was evaded and kept hidden by local resistance fighters while awaiting arrangements with the seven other airmen, to escape back to England. They were captured after a betrayal by local collaborators and were taken to a wooded area where they were executed on April 22, 1944, and buried in a mass grave. TSgt Nichols is now buried in the Golden Gate National Cemetery, San Bruno, San Mateo County, California, USA.

Source of information: www.americanairmuseum.com