WHEN 18 Spitfires and six Hurricanes roared over the coast of Hampshire this week, the sight and sound of the formidable wartime planes marked the Battle of Britain’s ‘hardest day’.

On 18 August 1940, Biggin Hill in Bromley came under attack from the Luftwaffe in what turned out to be the hardest-fought day in the history of the air war.

But little commemorated was a 24 hour period just days earlier which was Hampshire’s own ‘hardest day’.

Amid the furious dogfighting, one of the most celebrated pilots of the Second World War, 23-year-old flight lieutenant James Nicolson, emerged to be the only pilot to win the only Victoria Cross during the whole world war.

His heroics in the sky above Hampshire is hailed as an example of the wrought iron bravery demonstrated by what Winston Churchill called ‘the few’.

Now in tribute an ultra-modern RAF Typhoon has been painted with Lt Nicolson's squadron number as it takes part in flypasts throughout the country.

It was Friday, August 16, that the bells rang out again at RAF Boscombe Down in response to yet another wave of enemy aircraft, sending exhausted pilots of 249 Squadron scrambling for their Hawker Hurricanes.

Radar had picked up a massive formation heading towards Hampshire. By the time the fighter planes were airborne a huge swarm Messerschmitt BF110’s were approaching Southampton from the direction of Gosport.

With the enemy planes in their sights, the Hurricanes dived in for the kill in a bid to wipe them out before they dropped their lethal bombs on the Supermarine factory in Woolston which made Spitfires.

But unbeknown to them BF109s fighters were prowling above, poised to pounce on their prey.

Before he knew it cannon shells riddled 23-year-old flight Lt Nicolson’s Hurricane.

His left leg was also badly ripped open. Worst still, his right eye was badly damaged with blood temporarily blinding him – not helped by the fact that his Perspex hood had been shot away, exposing him to the elements at speeds of 400mph.

Seconds after being hit his fuel tank burst into flames that soon engulfed the plane.

With his instrument panel melting fast, his hands blistering and his trousers catching fire, Lt Nicolson decided it was time to bail out before he became toast.

Meanwhile his wingman, 19-year-old pilot officer Martyn King, bailed out. Watched by people awed by the spectacle of the dogfight above Southampton, his parachute failed to open and he fell to this death into a garden in Shirley.

But while preparing to jump, one of the BF109 bombers pulled into sight front of Lt Nicolson.

Without much of a thought, he slipped back into the burning cockpit and began pursuing the enemy plane – shouting out ‘I’ll teach you some manners you Hun.’

With fire raging around him he managed to manoeuvre into position and deliver a deadly burst of canon into the bomber which later crashed into the sea.

Badly burned on the face, hands, legs, and feet, he finally bailed out, his only thought for his wife who was expecting his baby.

However as he descended a German aircraft began circling him, forcing him to feign death until it flew away.

Then as he neared the ground a group of local defence volunteers opened fire after they confused him for an enemy parachutist.

He was rushed to the Royal South Hants and Southampton Hospital, where doctors battled to save his life. When he came round he calmly dictated a telegram to her, which read: “Shot down, darling.

“Very slightly hurt. Full particulars following. All my love Nick.”

Sister Beatrice Jagger, in charge of the Garton Ward, recalled his amazing resilience to the agonising pain he was in.

She told the Daily Echo: “Even in his worst days he never lost his sense of humour. He was exceedingly considerate to everybody attending to him.

“His eyes were so swollen that he could not see them. Directly we let him up and sit in the chair for a short time he began to worry about when he would be able to get back to his station to have another crack at the Hun.”

His official citation for the Victoria Cross was awarded in November, 1940.

It read: "By continuing to engage the enemy after he had been wounded and his aircraft set on fire, he displayed exceptional gallantry and disregard for the safety of his own life."

A recovering a year after being shot down, he was posted to India where he was a squadron leader and commanding officer.

Sadly the young pilot was killed when his plane caught fire and crashed into the Bay of Bengal.

Local aviation historian Chris Ryan said it was important that their bravery of pilots like Lt Nicolson above the skies of Hampshire should be remembered as the nation commemorates the 75th anniversary.

He is now calling for a plaque to be put up in the Royal South Hants Hospital’s main entrance to mark Lt Nicolson’s stay.

“It is a story that people that many people don’t know about it but they should,” he said.

“These men gave their lives at such a young age for our freedom, saving us from the evil Nazi enterprise.”