Squadron Leader John Pattison
By GPCAPT Edward Poot
SQNLDR John Pattison, DFC
One of the few remaining New Zealanders who fought during the Battle of Britain, Squadron Leader John Pattison, DSO, DFC, has died, aged 92. A dashing and heroic World War II Spitfire pilot, SQNLDR Pattison, was the last remaining Commanding Officer of No 485 Squadron.
John Gordon Pattison was born on 27 January 1917 at Waipawa. He attended Wanganui Collegiate School, and worked on his father’s farm, during which time he joined the Civil Reserve of Pilots, and learned to fly Tiger Moths at the Hawke’s Bay and East Coast Aero Club.
When war broke out he was commissioned as a Pilot Officer (May 1940) and shortly after sailed for Britain. He joined No 266 Squadron at Debden, Essex, and after 22 hours on Spitfires he flew his first operational sortie, shortly after the Battle of Britain began.
After just four weeks in action SQNLDR Pattison was shot down, taking a cannon shell through the buttock. Nine months later he was back on operations with 485 NZ Squadron. His run of bad luck continued—shortly after returning to the air he had his engine shot out over France and was forced to bail out into the Channel.
An oil painting of SQNLDR Pattison
He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) in 1943 during his third tour of operational duty during which he took part in many sweeps as well as numerous low level attacks. His DFC citation described him as “a fine flight commander; his determination, zeal and courage have been an inspiration to all.”
After the D-Day landings he shot down a ME109 and a Focke-Wulf 190. For this deed he received the French Legion d’honneur. He was appointed to command 485 Squadron in September 1944, based under canvas in France and flying Spitfires in ground support operations. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Order (DSO) in May 1945 after completing a third tour of operational duty. During his wartime service he completed at least 259 sorties, destroying many enemy vehicles and shooting down enemy aircraft.
The DSO citation said he had displayed the highest standard of skill and courage, and his devotion to duty has been outstanding. It concluded, "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".
This skilled and courageous pilot was not without a sense of humour. Over the years his family was told of wartime antics such as flying his Spitfire under the Severn Bridge, and flying back from France for 48 hours leave with his wife Pauline carrying champagne, bought for half a crown, stowed in the gun bays in the Spitfire’s wings.
SQNLDR John Pattison’s Medals
After being discharged from the RAF in January 1946, SQNLDR Pattison returned to New Zealand. For the rest of his life he farmed at Waipawa before retiring to Havelock North. He always said that after the privations he had seen in Europe he felt that there was no better way than to spend a life than to feed a hungry world.
SQNLDR Pattison continued to lead in the community. At various times he was Deputy Master and then Master of the Hawke’s Bay Hunt, Chairman of the Central Hawke’s Bay Electric Power Board, and President of the Hastings Club. He continued to support 485 (NZ) Squadron Association, attending nearly all their annual dinners.
SQNLDR Pattison died at Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand on 11 September 2009. He is survived by his four sons. A recently completed oil painting of him by WGCDR Andrew Clark, RNZAF, now hangs in Headquarters 485 Wing. He will be missed by all those whose lives he touched.