In preparing for its new role, 441 Squadron could draw on experience from elsewhere. Thus did USAF Captain MC "Mike" Nicholas become 441's first exchange pilot. Born in 1931 and raised in Ogden, Utah, Nicholas joined the USAF in 1955. After basic fighter training, in 1956 he was posted to the F-86D/L with the 337th FIS at Westover, Massachusetts. In 1958 the 337th became one of the first squadrons with F-104As. When tensions soared between the Nationalist and Communist Chinese, the 337th deployed to Formosa, so it was an exciting time to be on squadron.
In 1960 Nicholas moved to the photo recce world, flying the RF-101 from Toul, France, then at Ramstein, Germany. Next in his career came 1 Wing. In July 2003 he recalled how this came about: "In August 1964 I got a call from the officer assignment branch at 17th Air Force at Ramstein, telling me of the opening. The 17th had received a message from Washington to send someone to Marville to assist the RCAF with its new recce program. I jumped at the chance and was accepted."
Both 1 Wing Squadrons would profit from Nicholas' experience. Eight months afterwards, 441 pilots were giving him a run for his money. Now he moved from training individual pilots to flying squadron TacEvals and hunting for suitable routes/targets that Starfighters might visit. With new routes the deal was that each squadron would send pilots out to try it. Whoever fell a bit short had to buy the beer in the mess that night.
One day, while scouting for a new route, Nicholas looked up to see his view blocked by another airplane! He took evasive action, but there was a crunch - he had collided with an RAF Canberra. Both pilots kept control and recovered at Grostenquin, where the aircraft were repaired. Mike Nicholas recalled that the board of enquiry looking into this incident was complicated. After all, an American, flying a Canadian aircraft based in France, had collided with a British aircraft over Germany, both pilots then landing in France!
Nicholas, who had been sent to 1 Wing for only six months, was delighted when asked by S/L Jack Frazer of 1 Wing to stay another six months. When he finally left 1 Wing in 1965, Nicholas instructed on RF-4Cs at Shaw AFB. In 1967 he was posted to Southeast Asia, where he flew 120 RF-4C combat missions, mostly over North Viernam. Various ground tours followed until 1978 when LCol Mike Nicholas retired to go into business in California. As to his stay at 441? On that his memory is clear: "That was the most enjoyable year of my 24 years of active duty. I cannot say enough about the hospitality and great reception I received, and the willingness of the RCAF to accept my guidance."
Web site comment: - I always assume that detail is accurate when reading material from other sources. In the case of this article, I have but one question. The article indicates that Nicholas was assigned to 441 Squadron at Marville between August 1964 and August 1965. The article also indicates that Nicholas and the RAF Canberra landed at Grostenquin after their mid-air mishap.
It is well documented that the RCAF station at Grostenquin closed in mid July 1964. Is this to indicate that the recovery of the CF-104 and the RAF Canberra was to an airfield that was not operational, with no control tower, no servicing crews, and on a runway that had not been maintained for a year or so?
Updated: October 13, 2004
