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| Squadron/s | 452 SQN |
| Rank On Discharge/Death | Pilot Officer (PLTOFF) |
| Mustering / Specialisation | Pilot |
| Date of Birth | 14 Feb 1920 |
| Date of Enlistment | 29 Mar 1941 |
| Date of Death | 20 Jun 1943 |
| Contributing Author/s | Paul Carter, Phil Listemann Updated by Vince Conant August 2013 The Spitfire Association |
Willie Everard was born on the 14 February, 1920 at Hamilton Victoria and enlisted on the 29th of March, 1941 in Adelaide.
On the 2 May, 1943 P/O NICHTERLEIN was at readiness when the Squadron was ordered to scramble RAID 54 launched by the Japanese. They took off at 0955, W/C Clive "Killer" Caldwell flying with the Squadron and leading the Wing. An Enemy formation of 21 bombers escorted by 25-30 fighters was sighted at about 27,000 feet approaching Darwin. No.452 Squadron was the last to attack.
After about fifteen minutes of combat, P/O NICHTERLEIN due to shortage of fuel, decided to break away and return to base. However, he ran out of fuel and crash-landed in shallows off Tumbling Waters, N.T. at about 1115hrs.
P/O NICHTERLEIN was a native of Victoria Australia, and had served the squadron since March. He was killed the next month.
A58-100 F.VC BS291
Arrived in Australia on SS Port Sydney 29/11/42.Rec 2AD ex UK 21/11/42. Rec 2OTU ex 2AD 15/12/42. Marked " 1" Accident 05/01/43 when aircraft was groundlooped following normal landing after veering to the right. Aircraft ended on nose. Pilot; Sgt W.E. Nichterlein Serv#4161041 slightly injured. (Later in 452Sqn RAAF). Rec 2AD ex 2OTU 15/01/43. AMSE Approval per File#9/16/649 to be converted to Instructional Airframe#1, 11/02/43. Converted to components 17/10/45.
Sergeant-Pilot Willie Everard Nichterlein of the Royal Australian Air Force has been reported missing following a raid at Darwin on June 20. This advice has been received by his parents, the Rev. and Mrs. O. Nichterlein of Pridmore Road, Glen Osmond. Sgt. Nichterlein is 23. He joined the R.A.A.F. in February 1941, and finished his course in Rhodesia and England. He returned to Australia at the end of 1942. In February this year, he was posted to Darwin with a Spitfire Squadron. After a raid on May 2, Sgt.-Pilot Nichterlein was reported missing but later reported back to his base after having made a forced landing in the bush. He was educated at the Adelaide High School, Concordia College, and the School of Mines, where he was a student at the time of his enlistment. For a time, he was captain of the University baseball team. A sister is a nurse in the A.I.F. and a brother is serving with the R.A.A.F. in the Middle East.
Service number: 416104
Rank: Pilot Officer
Unit: 452 Squadron
Service: Royal Australian Air Force
Conflict: 1939-1945
Date of death: 20 June 1943
Place of death: Off Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia
Cause of death: Flying Battle
Cemetery or memorial details: Northern Territory Memorial, Northern Territory, Australia
Source: AWM148 Roll of Honour cards, 1939-1945 War, Air Force
Cemetery or memorial details: Northern Territory Memorial, Northern Territory, Australia
Source: AWM148 Roll of Honour cards, 1939-1945 War, Air Force
