His body was buried near to the crash site at All Saints Churchyard in Staplehurst, one of British and Allied pilots who died during the Battle of Britain. His RAF wings and identity card were recovered from the wreckage and placed in the archives alongside a letter from his sister, Jess, sent just nine days before his death. H is story is one of countless threads that make up the year history of the Royal Air Force. Often they have been forgotten in the fog of war or even simply never told.
I just find some of these stories so hugely evocative.
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T he anthology consists of around pages of documents, orders, operational reports, maps, diaries, letters and ephemera. In total, only 1, copies are being printed worldwide and sold on a first-come, first-served basis. As a result while the publishing date is not until next spring, subscribers are being encouraged to come forward now. After initially being recruited to fill clerical and transport posts to release men for frontline duty, the women of the WAAF soon became a vital cog in the war effort: Devitt cites three stories which have been taken from the RAF archive as part of research into the book.
On Sunday August 18, , Elizabeth Mortimer was manning a switchboard in the armoury at Biggin Hill airfield when Luftwaffe bombers insitigated a heavy raid. Bombs rained down on the airfield, destroying several motor transport sheds and smashing a nearby anti-aircraft gun to pieces killing those manning it. But the year-old Mortimer remained at her post throughout the chaos, calmly relaying messages to the defence positions.
I'm told his unit was surrounded and only a very few the number I remember is six of his unit of about 1, men escaped death. I'm told that he suffered terrible nightmares for many years after, and who wouldn't? He was a communist! By the time I met him, he had Alzheimer's. I wish I could have known him when he was still all there. Another is pretending that those other people aren't people, that they're either just the same as us or completely different, or that they're all evil. Yet another is believing that God is on your side. The Pearl Harbor attack is an example of the consequences of this kind of thinking.
Let's try to avoid it ourselves, ok? I've been hearing an awful lot of it lately. My father, a Landing Ship Medium LSM crew member, told me that at war's end they were preparing for the invasion of the Japanese home islands. Based upon casualties at Okinawa, US commanders estimated that Allied losses during the home island invasions would have easily topped one million.
Japanese casualties would have been far, far worse. Those who continue to protest "killing two cities" seem to somehow overlook this, as well as the Rape of Nanking, the senseless murders as Manila was retaken, Bataan, etc. Dropping the A bombs, as brutal as they proved to be, saved far more lives than it took.
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Please don't try to judge those times by these or rewrite history. As a career Navy vet, I continuously salute my dad and all those who served when all the free world seemed lost. If we lost WW2, the people involved in the atomic bombings would be tried as war criminals.
Watch McNamara's Fog of War. A time may come again when dropping A bombs may be needed. Will America have the nerve to do what needs to be done again?
Or will America live for ever in fear of another attack, always looking to the sky for the next attack. Like everyone, I like the idea of 32, but this is clearly propaganda "released by the Navy Department in Washington". Don't be so quick to trust your government The reporters are laughing because they are engaged in a footrace to get to the White House telephones first in order to call in the biggest story of their lives.
And they are all sliding on the polished wood floors in leather-soled shoes. The burial of the Japanese lieutenant in 32 is pure Navy public relations. Note that there isn't a single sailor actually gazing at the coffin. Nobody is saying a prayer. All are precisely positioned for the camera's benefit on one side of the grave.
If this was a hasty burial following the heat of battle, in front of a foxhole the day the war began, where did they come up with a coffin? No, I think some general wanted a photo taken to show we were morally superior to the Japanese. He wasn't supposed to be on the "Mary" that day as he had received a liberty pass for the weekend known as a "chit" but one of his shipmates asked if he would switch weekends.
Right before the attack, my dad had taken his shower and done his laundry. As he entered the sleeping quarters, the announcement came over: This is no drill! They had the Maryland's engines up and running hoping that the ship could get underway, but there was a problem. The Oklahoma took the bad torpedo hits immediately and she wasn't going anywhere.
My dad volunteered and when he got topside, he couldn't believe his eyes. The first thing he saw was the West Virginia burning and he said: Dad said that you could hear the men in the Oklahoma banging on the hull and pipes so that the rescue crews could find them. The Maryland was hit with a torpedo and the hole was patched with a huge piece of sheet metal; but, before the damage could be properly repaired, the Maryland was sent as backup to Midway. Dad said at night on deck when it was quiet, the way the water hit that piece of sheet metal, caused a very ghostly sound.
Dad entered the Navy in at the age of He did two tours of duty two striper , was involved in most of the major battles in the Pacific Theater - Saipan, Tarawa, Leyte Gulf, etc. One of the things that really impressed my dad was when all the battleships would be "softening up" the islands for the marines to land. Dad left the Navy in September of , and until the day he died would say: I love them all. My dad kept that weekend pass "chit" all these years. I joined the Army in and got out in Cannot even begin to think what it must have been like to have lived through these trying times!
I watch a LOT of documentaries pertaining to the war years and try to mix in some of the ones that explain the thinking mode of the average American Joe during this period of history. One thing sticks out in my mind,the idea that we as a country and people were fortunate to have done the things we had to do! Thank you to any and all who played a part in this great struggle! One thing has not changed over all these generations: I have a grand-daughter serving in the Army, and five-generations of my family have given service to the armed forces of America, including my wife's uncle who is en-toumbed on the Arizona God Bless all those who have died to keep America safe and free.
Using A-Bomb on two cities got no excuses, isn't war but mass murder of civilians. They spread this dark shadow over the entire world for years. God bless Reagan and Gorbaciov. That one picture is something all Americans can, and I think should, be be justly proud of! I don't care who was "wrong" and "right" in the second world war, I think it is about time to recognize the war as a thing of the past.
Let us learn from it, and the most important lesson to be learned is that it does not matter who's values or reasons for war are better or worse, what matters is that both sides suffer in such a devastating war, whether you win or loose, whether you're right or wrong. Remeber, "war" is the state of diplomacy between soverigns, while warfare is the means by which war is prosecuted.
Warfare is what is involved with the sacrfiice of the troops, sailors and airmen. There is no way, once developed, that the atomic bombs could NOT be used, since the continued warfare and that which would have been needed to subdue the Japanese and end the war was an intolerable waste. The "Pearl Harbor" soundtrack came up on Pandora when I was viewing this photo-essay Total destruction of cities was already going on. Dresden in Europe suffered as similar fate. Japan destroyed several cities in mainland Asia--hence the book title "The Rape of Nanking". Petersburg and Stalingrad in Russia--and a whole region of Belgium.
For those trapped in those cities, death was death. As Commanding Officer of the U. West Virginia, after being mortally wounded, Captain Bennion evidenced apparent concern only in fighting and saving his ship, and strongly protested against being carried from the bridge. I recall my parents telling me how frightened they were as children after Pearl Harbor It must have been a very frightening time for our country and the world as a whole.
We tend to forget how horrible WW2 was due to the nostalgia associated with it today, but it was a brutally horrible war Also, go to japan, visit the Hiroshima war museum and you can read original, official documents from US officials stating that these measures the bombs were not needed, but of course the bombs were dropped. But then you will cut me down too next. The atomic bombs were not dropped because of Pearl Harbor, as many have said, that is way too simplistic. Larger factors were probably the amount of money invested in the program--the govt wanted to see the Manhattan project through..
Also, we killed those cities literally just before the Soviet Union was slated to enter the Pacific theater, Japan was ready to surrender, but if it took too long, then the Soviet Union may have had a role in post-war Japan--no way we would have wanted that.. I've seen pro and con remarks about President Truman's decision to use the atomic bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. I had been assigned a ship as a Marine grunt that was part of the invassion force that was forming to hit Japan before Christmas.
Consequently, I'm delighted to be here to say I am Pro Truman! His act shortened the war and saved countless lives on both sides of the conflict. The neighbor that lives behind me was serving on the USS Callifornia 22 that sank. He shared many stories with me of the invasion. He is still alive and is considered a hero to us all here. God bless all our veterans. I joined the Marine Corp on December 7, my father was part of the force that invade Japan and spent a year there.
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I later married my wife who is born in raised in Tokyo Japan. My son has two passports one from US and one from Japan. MY sons Grandfather died last spring at the age of 99 one week short of Life takes many twist and turns. The real question should be why do we send our children off to war. We should let the war folks duke it out themselves.
If George W Bush had to go off to war himself we would never had been in Iraq! Omg it looks horible Im glad i wasnt around or that any of my peps. That was a sad monment!! I watched the first half of the Pearl Harbor movie last night and will finish it up tonight. For years, that has been my memorial to the brave souls who survived and perished on that day.
I'm 44 years old and not even alive when this took place, nor did I have any family involved that I know of, however this event in our country's history moves me each year. Love and blessings to all still alive and to those spending time with Jesus now! What is really funny is how the sons of the ones who won keep fighting a war that has been over for over 60 years with words as bitter as any bomb.
A treacherous sneak attack. The rape of Nanking.
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The biological experiments on the Chinese and our own POW's. The bataan Death March. The rape of the Phillipines. For 2 years, America had stood on the sidelines watching Germany rape and ravage Europe, killing mass numbers of our relatives and friends Now, at last, Congress could no longer make us do nothing while the world burned I can't believe you have said this.
Most of Middle America was quite ignorant of the actual and ever increasing state of affairs at the time of the "surprise" attack. There was a very real and noticeable amount of people who if spot polled would have expressed a desire to not go to war! Thankfully events turned out just so,that we were emotionally compelled to end our unrealistic attitude of separatism and GO to WAR!
Thank God and some very intelligent higher powers that be who might be given credit for the way things turned out. Whatever the conspiracy theories that may abound? We did the right thing and that is that! Thank you unsung heroes! I am sure you know who you are! On a lighter note,check out the wheel hubs on those vintage clunkers? Also the bullet damages? Had to have been scary? Regarding Comment 26, perhaps the "Rational" is that the dead body being buried was a human being, and fortunate living human beings are respecting that FACT. Regarding , your assumptions are noble.
Ich hatte immer angst. My grandfather was on the USS Oklahoma. He was a only 20 years old and had a wife and brand new baby my dad waiting at home for him. I wish that I could have met him. To all of the people that say we destroyed two cities for nothing, I completely disagree. I don't like war, but how many more of us would have lost our fathers, grandfathers, great-grandfathers without a US retaliation.
This is what honor and decency look like. We did not string prisoners from their ceilings or cuff them, bent over backwards, across a bed frame. We didn't smear them with feces. I hope soon we rediscover our fundamental decency and honor. Remember the first words out of Cheney's sneering mouth after the towers fell? He was pretty happy too. Advice; send your thoughtful comment to Rumsfeld, Cheney, Bush and their legal council He knew personally exactly what war meant England,USA and our many friends and allies "lest we forget " and we will fight to the death along side our American cousins in the face of tyranny.
This was an atrocity because it was a pre-emptive strike before declaration of war. Same with the attack of Iraq by GWBush. The fire-bombing and atom-bombing of German and Japanese civilian population centers were an altogether different set of atrocities. Being proud of any of these things is yet another. Although I must say All of the men in that picture know what transpired, but they seem as if they're dashing toward a keg line. That was a different time. The Japanese mostly did not surrender to our Military forces,its difficult to defeat a enemy who fights to the death. From declassified Soviet documents in the 90's.
Korean island,they exploded a Atomic Bomb August 12th,,so you see. We were lucky to use it first. We are blessed and lucky to live in this free country, America today. Thanks to the many scarifices these soldiers made for us and their families they left behind tell us about in the book Everytown USA. It should be an American History book every student should read. It is told from those that were there or by those that knew their father or brother and lost them in the war, and the emotions are incredible.
I remember the first time I heard one of the stories from my own father and saw him cry for the first time. I will never forget that and we should never forget Pearl Harbor and all our Veterans throughout history who scarificed everything for us! Journey Back To Pearl Harbor: One of 30 applicants vying for three places, he was rejected for lack of flying experience. Determined to rectify this weakness, he went to Johannesburg and began taking flying lessons.
To fund his new ambition, he worked for a mining company, Sheba Gold Mine. He enjoyed the work so much he considered studying for a degree in mining engineering. His passion for flying subsided, but an impromptu visit by a transport aircraft gave Pattle a close glimpse of it, which rekindled his interest. At around the same time, the Ministry of Defence created the Special Service Battalion to employ South African youth who were struggling to find work because of the Great Depression.
He joined up in hoping it would lead to a career in the Air Force.
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He undertook basic training and national service on the understanding that he would be given an opportunity to enter the Air Force as an instructor at the end of his four-year service. Pattle worked toward this goal for some time until, in late , by chance, he picked up a copy of the Johannesburg Star newspaper. The paper contained an advertisement by the Royal Air Force RAF which was offering five-year short service commissions for cadets throughout the British Empire.
The RAF expansion schemes required a great influx of capable personnel into the organisation as rearmament and the need for fighting men heightened. Pattle decided that a career in the RAF offered better prospects than as an instructor in South Africa and applied. Early in , he was invited to Britain as an applicant. He flew to London at his own expense to attend the selection processes and was offered a commission by the selection board. He formally began his training on 29 June He progressed well in his theory examinations, gaining 99 percent for gunnery and 91 percent for airmanship.
He flew a single-engined De Havilland Tiger Moth training biplane and gained his A Licence at the end of July, partly because he was a capable pilot and also because the Air Ministry was anxious to produce trained pilots. He completed his training within two months and was classified as above average after passing his examination with ease. Pattle was sent to No.
He spent three months with the Initial Training Squadron and three further months with the Advanced Training Squadron. His advanced training began in November on the Gloster Gauntlet. He completed his training somewhat later than planned, in March , owing to bad weather which curtailed flying.
He was rated as "exceptional" in his final report. The squadron was in the midst of re-forming at RAF Kenley and he was able to fly the Gloster Gladiator fighter for the first time in May During these exercises, he mastered deflection shooting. Pattle developed his own air tactics. He preferred attacking at higher altitudes than his quarry, meeting head-on, then waiting for the enemy to fly by before rolling over and diving to attack from the side and rear of the enemy.
He usually held his fire until very close to the target to make sure of hitting his opponent. His qualities as an officer led to him being promoted to squadron adjutant. On 29 April , Pattle accompanied the unit to Egypt having been tasked with the defence of the Suez Canal. He fired on the enemy several times as local rebellions against British rule took shape and then died away.
Following the outbreak of war, the unit, flying the Gloster Gladiator, moved up to the Libyan border, where in August , Pattle first saw action. On 4 August , Pattle claimed his first victories. Pattle downed a Breda, but was then attacked by the escorting Fiat CR. He managed to hit one, that he saw falling spinning, but later was himself attacked by another formation of Bredas and CR. The Bredas dived and delivered attacks from the quarter and beam. Pattle avoided them by turning away and opening fire on the nearest target as they dived past to gain speed, climbed, and then engaged Pattle again.
The Gladiator's guns jammed one by one, leaving him without any form of defence, other than bluff attacks. After 15 minutes of battle, while avoiding one enemy fighter, he flew into the line of sight of another and was hit. He landed, winded, and played dead to avoid being strafed. He started to walk towards the Allied lines and crossed the border at around midday the following day. After two days, he was rescued by a detachment from the 11th Hussars , who returned him to Sidi Barrani. He considered being shot down by the Italians as an embarrassment and regarded the episode as a slur on his reputation.
After his forced march to friendly lines, he was also determined not to get lost in the desert again so he flew to Alexandria and bought a compass which he never flew without. On 8 August, Pattle claimed two more victories nos 3—4. Three days later, the Italian invasion of Egypt began.
Much to Pattle's distaste, the squadron was heavily involved in close air support operations and ordered specifically to avoid air-to-air combat unless attacked. On occasion, he chanced upon Italian aircraft, but the Gladiator's limited speed denied Pattle further success. Pattle succeeded in damaging a Savoia-Marchetti S. The speed of the Savoia-Marchetti S.
There the pilots were granted two days leave. On 16 November , the squadron arrived in Athens and moved to airfields north of the capital. Pattle's aerodrome was situated at Eleusis. They stayed to organise the squadron into flights but moved to the Albanian—Greek border town of Trikkala hours later. Here Pattle was to enjoy significant success. Pattle's guns jammed during the battle and he was forced to break off combat. Pattle also noted the inferior speed of the Gladiator against the Fiat G. The Italian pilots could easily outrun the Gladiators if outnumbered. His combat reports also noted the ineffective fire of the Italians who fired and broke away from too far away.
Though respectful of its advantages, he was convinced of his own flying ability. He placed the Gladiator below and in front of the Italian fighter to tempt the enemy pilot, but could not persuade it to accept battle. On 29 November, he shared with William Vale with both claiming two shared damaged.
On 2 December, he claimed two victories nos 7—8. In the afternoon, Pattle shot down another Ro.
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Pattle — whose own aircraft was hit in the main fuel tank and a wing strut — claimed three CR. Pattle achieved further success on 20 December On this day he achieved 12 or 13 air victories. Covering the withdrawal of Blenheims from Squadron over the Kelcyre sector, he missed the rendezvous. Instead, Pattle opted to fly a patrol between Tepelene and Kelcyre.
He intercepted a flight of escorted SM. He downed one via a head-on attack. The crew bailed out and the bomber crashed near Tepelene. Two Gladiators had been damaged and withdrew after being hit by withering return fire. Soon he spotted another formation of much slower Savoia-Marchetti SM. He expended all his ammunition and watched the Italian pilot attempt a crash-landing, only for the bomber to hit a tree and disintegrate 15 miles north of Kelcyre. His first victim was piloted by Tenente Andrea Berlingieri.
Berlingieri and his crew were killed. Hickey bailed out and was subsequently shot in his parachute. Pilot Officer Ripley was killed also — Pattle witnessed his death. The squadron claimed a number of victories in return. Pattle's 15th and last victory in the Gladiator was claimed on 9 February Pattle led his section straight towards four Fiat G. It was the first time he had fired the eight guns of the Hurricane, and the G. His Hurricane sustained a bullet hole in the fuel tank. On 28 February, [45] British pilots in Greece celebrated their biggest success in combat.
The Italians claimed six Gladiators and one Supermarine Spitfire — none would be in the Mediterranean Theatre until March — while in fact only one Gladiator of No. His tally was now 21 air victories. On 4 March , Pattle claimed three enemy Fiat G.
Men latest
He claimed the first, while Nigel Cullen — another leading fighter ace — flew as his wingman. Escorting Blenheims to attack Italian warships, the pair were engaged by a lone G. Pattle engaged the Fiat and shot it down — its landing gear dropped down and it rolled over and into a mountainside just north of Himare. Pattle searched for Cullen, expecting him to be behind him but saw no sign of the Australian. He assumed Cullen had gone off to scout for more enemy aircraft after missing out on Pattle's victory.
Now alone, he was attacked by another lone G. After a brief combat, he shot down the Fiat. He then became involved with a third such fighter over Valona harbour and claimed to have shot this down into the sea in flames on the west side of the promontory. After his return to base, he was informed Cullen had been posted missing in action. Pattle and the squadron considered he had most likely been shot down and killed. On 12 March , Pattle was promoted to squadron leader. The following day, the squadron returned to Eleusis north of Athens. There, Pattle was reassigned to No.
This courageous and skilful fighter pilot has now destroyed at least 23 enemy aircraft". Pattle arrived in Athens and was immediately unimpressed by No. The group was already indignant and many of the veterans believed one of their number should have been promoted instead.