John Pattison (RNZAF officer)
Encyclopedia
Squadron Leader
John Gordon Pattison, DSO
, DFC
, Légion d'honneur
(27 January 1917 – 11 September 2009) was a New Zealand fighter pilot
and squadron
commander
of the Second World War. At the time of his death he was one of the few surviving New Zealand veterans of the Battle of Britain
.
John Gordon Pattison was born 27 January 1917 in Waipawa
and educated at Wanganui Collegiate School working on his father's farm. He joined the Civil Reserve of Pilots, and learned to fly at Hawke's Bay and East Coast Aero Club. With just 20 hours of flying time when the Second World War began, he volunteered for service with the RAF the day war was declared. He completed his training and sailed for the UK.
Pattison arrived in Britain in late July 1940, attended 7 OTU and then joined No 266 Squadron based at Debden
on 26 August 1940, flying Spitfires. On his first operation intercepting a force of enemy bombers he became separated from the squadron, ran out of fuel and made a wheels-up landing in a field. On 14 September he was posted to No 92 Squadron, based at Biggin Hill
. On 23 September Pattison was attacked by a Bf 109 over Gravesend
and received serious thigh wounds from a cannon shell, crash-landing at West Malling
airfield. He spent eight months in hospital, but recovered and rejoined the squadron in June 1941 before becoming an instructor at 61 OTU a month later.In June 1941 Pattison contravened standing orders regarding low flying and flew under the Severn railway bridge and he lost three months seniority as a penalty.
In April 1942 he returned to operations with No 485 (NZ) Squadron, based at Kenley
. On April 26 his Squadron was attacked by Focke-Wulf 190s, with four aircraft hit, two pilots were lost. The engine of Pattison's Spitfire was damaged, bailing out off the Sussex coast and rescued by an air-sea rescue launch.
Over the next year he flew onnumerous operations and was rested in June 1943. In July 1943 he was awarded a DFC for his "determination, zeal and courage".
After a tour as chief flying instructor at 56 OTU, Pattison returned to operations in March 1944 with No 66 Squadron. He was involved in the Invasion of Normandy.On 6 July 6 1944 he attacked a Messerschmitt Bf 109 near Chartres
forcing the German pilot to bail out. A month later he shot down a Focke-Wulf 190 near Montrichard
.
Pattison was appointed to return to and command No 485 (NZ) in September and he led in support of the advancing armies through France, Belgium and Holland, claiming many enemy ground vehicles destroyed. When No 485 was withdrawn from the front line in February 1945 Pattison was posted to the staff at HQ, 84 Group.
On 20 March he was awarded the DSO, the citation concluding that "he has set the highest standard of skill and courage and shown the finest qualities of leadership both in the air and on the ground".
By the end of the war, in at least 259 operational sorties, he had been credited with two enemy aircraft destroyed along with an unspecified number of ground vehicles. He was shot down twice during the war.
Discharged from the RAF in January 1946, Pattison returned to New Zealand to farm at Waipawa before retiring to Havelock North.
at the time of sixtieth anniversary commemorations of the Normandy landings in 2004. The award was personally bestowed by the nation's then-president Jacques Chirac
.
Squadron Leader
Squadron Leader is a commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence. It is also sometimes used as the English translation of an equivalent rank in countries which have a non-English air force-specific rank structure. In these...
John Gordon Pattison, DSO
Distinguished Service Order
The Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September...
, DFC
Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)
The Distinguished Flying Cross is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force and other services, and formerly to officers of other Commonwealth countries, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active operations against...
, Légion d'honneur
Légion d'honneur
The Legion of Honour, or in full the National Order of the Legion of Honour is a French order established by Napoleon Bonaparte, First Consul of the Consulat which succeeded to the First Republic, on 19 May 1802...
(27 January 1917 – 11 September 2009) was a New Zealand fighter pilot
Fighter pilot
A fighter pilot is a military aviator trained in air-to-air combat while piloting a fighter aircraft . Fighter pilots undergo specialized training in aerial warfare and dogfighting...
and squadron
Squadron (aviation)
A squadron in air force, army aviation or naval aviation is mainly a unit comprising a number of military aircraft, usually of the same type, typically with 12 to 24 aircraft, sometimes divided into three or four flights, depending on aircraft type and air force...
commander
Commander
Commander is a naval rank which is also sometimes used as a military title depending on the individual customs of a given military service. Commander is also used as a rank or title in some organizations outside of the armed forces, particularly in police and law enforcement.-Commander as a naval...
of the Second World War. At the time of his death he was one of the few surviving New Zealand veterans of the Battle of Britain
Battle of Britain
The Battle of Britain is the name given to the World War II air campaign waged by the German Air Force against the United Kingdom during the summer and autumn of 1940...
.
John Gordon Pattison was born 27 January 1917 in Waipawa
Waipawa
Waipawa is the second-largest town in Central Hawke's Bay in the east of the North Island of New Zealand. At the 2001 Census it had a population of 1,872, a change of -2.0 percent since the 1996 census....
and educated at Wanganui Collegiate School working on his father's farm. He joined the Civil Reserve of Pilots, and learned to fly at Hawke's Bay and East Coast Aero Club. With just 20 hours of flying time when the Second World War began, he volunteered for service with the RAF the day war was declared. He completed his training and sailed for the UK.
Pattison arrived in Britain in late July 1940, attended 7 OTU and then joined No 266 Squadron based at Debden
Debden
Debden could mean:* Debden, Epping Forest, England** Debden House, adult education college** Debden tube station* Debden, Uttlesford, England** RAF Debden* Debden, Saskatchewan, Canada...
on 26 August 1940, flying Spitfires. On his first operation intercepting a force of enemy bombers he became separated from the squadron, ran out of fuel and made a wheels-up landing in a field. On 14 September he was posted to No 92 Squadron, based at Biggin Hill
Biggin Hill
Biggin Hill is an area and electoral ward in the outskirts of the London Borough of Bromley in southeast London, United Kingdom.-History:Historically the settlement was known as Aperfield and formed part of the parish of Cudham...
. On 23 September Pattison was attacked by a Bf 109 over Gravesend
Gravesend
Gravesend may refer to:Places in the United Kingdom:*Gravesend, Kent*Gravesend, Hertfordshire, a hamlet of Albury, HertfordshirePlaces in the USA and Australia:*Gravesend, Brooklyn*Gravesend, New South WalesOther meanings...
and received serious thigh wounds from a cannon shell, crash-landing at West Malling
West Malling
West Malling is a historic market town in the Tonbridge and Malling district of Kent, England. It has a population of about 3000-5000.-Landmarks:...
airfield. He spent eight months in hospital, but recovered and rejoined the squadron in June 1941 before becoming an instructor at 61 OTU a month later.In June 1941 Pattison contravened standing orders regarding low flying and flew under the Severn railway bridge and he lost three months seniority as a penalty.
In April 1942 he returned to operations with No 485 (NZ) Squadron, based at Kenley
Kenley
Kenley is a district in the south of the London Borough of Croydon. It borders Purley, Coulsdon, Riddlesdown, Caterham and Whyteleafe. Kenley is situated 13 miles south of Charing Cross. The 2001 census showed Kenley having a population of 13,525....
. On April 26 his Squadron was attacked by Focke-Wulf 190s, with four aircraft hit, two pilots were lost. The engine of Pattison's Spitfire was damaged, bailing out off the Sussex coast and rescued by an air-sea rescue launch.
Over the next year he flew onnumerous operations and was rested in June 1943. In July 1943 he was awarded a DFC for his "determination, zeal and courage".
After a tour as chief flying instructor at 56 OTU, Pattison returned to operations in March 1944 with No 66 Squadron. He was involved in the Invasion of Normandy.On 6 July 6 1944 he attacked a Messerschmitt Bf 109 near Chartres
Chartres
Chartres is a commune and capital of the Eure-et-Loir department in northern France. It is located southwest of Paris.-Geography:Chartres is built on the left bank of the Eure River, on a hill crowned by its famous cathedral, the spires of which are a landmark in the surrounding country...
forcing the German pilot to bail out. A month later he shot down a Focke-Wulf 190 near Montrichard
Montrichard
Montrichard is a town and commune in the Loir-et-Cher département, in France.-Geography:The town lies on the north bank of the Cher river. south of Blois, west of Vierzon and east of Tours...
.
Pattison was appointed to return to and command No 485 (NZ) in September and he led in support of the advancing armies through France, Belgium and Holland, claiming many enemy ground vehicles destroyed. When No 485 was withdrawn from the front line in February 1945 Pattison was posted to the staff at HQ, 84 Group.
On 20 March he was awarded the DSO, the citation concluding that "he has set the highest standard of skill and courage and shown the finest qualities of leadership both in the air and on the ground".
By the end of the war, in at least 259 operational sorties, he had been credited with two enemy aircraft destroyed along with an unspecified number of ground vehicles. He was shot down twice during the war.
Discharged from the RAF in January 1946, Pattison returned to New Zealand to farm at Waipawa before retiring to Havelock North.
Honours and awards
Pattison was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross in 1943, and made a companion of the Distinguished Service Order in 1945. He was awarded the Légion d'HonneurLégion d'honneur
The Legion of Honour, or in full the National Order of the Legion of Honour is a French order established by Napoleon Bonaparte, First Consul of the Consulat which succeeded to the First Republic, on 19 May 1802...
at the time of sixtieth anniversary commemorations of the Normandy landings in 2004. The award was personally bestowed by the nation's then-president Jacques Chirac
Jacques Chirac
Jacques René Chirac is a French politician who served as President of France from 1995 to 2007. He previously served as Prime Minister of France from 1974 to 1976 and from 1986 to 1988 , and as Mayor of Paris from 1977 to 1995.After completing his studies of the DEA's degree at the...
.
- 8 May 1945 - Acting Squadron Leader John Gordon Pattison DFC, (NZ.39931), RNZAF, 485 (NZ) Sqn is awarded the Distinguished Service Order in recognition of gallantry and devotion to duty in the execution of air operations: