Hurricane Mk I V7419 as flown by South African Sqn Leader Marmaduke St. John "Pat" Pattle of No. 80 Sqn during the ill-fated Greek campaign of Spring 1941.

Pattle was the highest scoring pilot of the RAF and Commonwealth Air Forces during  WW2, with 51 kills. He claimed all of his victories in North Africa and Greece, and was the top scoring pilot in both the Gladiator and Hurricane. A gifted flyer and natural marksman who took infinite pains to improve his talents, doing exercises to improve his distance vision and sharpen his reflexes.

His first 15 air victories were scored flying the obsolescent Gloster Gladiator, 9 more victories followed in Hurricanes. Then over 39 days he shot down no less than 26 enemy aircraft. He scored his victories in less than nine months of active warfare, giving some idea of the almost incredible ability of this great fighter pilot, of whom his friends said: "He flies like a like a bird". 

Pattle was shot down in the afternoon of the 20th of May 1941 during the Battle of Athens when 100+ bombers raided the Piraeus harbour to take out British shipping. During the loosing battle, two 110s swept onto Pattle's plane and his Hurricane was last seen crashing into the Eleusis Bay.


Marmaduke Thomas St. John Pattle - South African - approx 51 victories - No.80 & 33Sq; KIA 20/Apr/1941; victory count is approximate
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This HR skin was created by Nico, based on original skin files by DeanH and a HR 3dz model by Col. Gibbon.


Cheers


Nico

