Robert James Nichols

Sergeant Robert “Bob” Nichols was a torpedo-bomber gunner with VMTB-232 – the “Red Devils” of Cactus Air Force fame. He flew in a TBF Avenger, usually with Captain Vernon G. Rubincam in the cockpit and Staff Sergeant Donald E. Barker manning the radio.

After a tough tour of duty in the Solomon Islands, the Rubincam crew was sent to Sydney, Australia for a well-earned rest. Their return flight was made via South Pacific Combat Air Transport Command (SCAT) aboard an aircraft assigned to the 403rd Troop Carrier Group. On 23 November 1943, Douglas C-47 Skytrain 41-18675 (call-sign “675-Baker-253”) departed from Noumea with 25 men aboard – mostly “Red Devils” on their way back to Espiritu Santo. The plane failed to respond to a scheduled call at 0910, and when it did not arrive at its destination a massive search was launched.

Two days later, wreckage and some personal effects were found floating in Nakety Bay off the coast of New Caledonia. The pieces were identified as belonging to the Skytrain, but none of the bodies were ever recovered. All on board were reported as “died, non-combat.”

The exact cause of the crash is not known for certain, but Aviation Safety Network notes that heavy cloud cover and rain blanketed New Caledonia that morning. Although several other aircraft flew through on instruments, it is likely that “675-Baker-253” was lost due to weather conditions.