John B. Nichols
| John B. Nichols | |
|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | Pirate |
| Born | September 28, 1931 |
| Died | June 17, 2004 (aged 72) |
| Allegiance |
 United States of America
|
| Service/branch |
 United States Navy
|
| Years of service | 1957–1975 |
| Rank |
 Commander
|
| Unit |
Fighter Squadron 62 (VF-62) United States Navy Fighter Weapons School VF-191Fighter Squadron VF-174 |
| Commands held | VF-24 |
| Battles/wars | Vietnam War |
| Awards |
Silver Star Medal - Distinguished Flying Cross - Navy Commendation Medal - (16) Air Medals - Navy Unit Commendation - National Defense Service Medal - Vietnam Service Medal - Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal with V - Navy League Stephen Decator Award / |
Silver Star Medal - Distinguished Flying Cross - Navy Commendation Medal - (16) Air Medals - Navy Unit Commendation - National Defense Service Medal - Vietnam Service Medal - Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal with V - Navy League Stephen Decator Award
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 made the transition to the more advanced Vought F-8 Crusader, The last U.S. Fighter designed with Guns as its primary weapons system. Called "The last of the Gunfighters," This would be the aircraft that defined his professional career.
Nichols joined Fighter Squadron 62 (VF-62) and adopted the callsign "Pirate." During the Cuban Missile Crisis in Oct. of 1962, Nichols and pilots of Fighter Squadron VF-62 flew escort for classified RF-8 reconnaissance flights over Cuba to protect them from Russian Mig Fighters. VF-62 was awarded the Navy Unit Commendation by President Kennedy. Nichols 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 USS Ticonderoga (CVA-14) USS Oriskany (CVA-34), and USS Hancock (CVA-19).
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