In Memory Of

PATTLE, MARMADUKE THOMAS ST. JOHN

Service Details
Age:
 26
Date of Birth:
 1914-07-23
Service No:
 39029
Rank:
 Squadron Leader
Unit:
 33 Sqdn.
Regiment:
 Royal Air Force
Date of Death:
 1941-04-20
Cause of Death:
 Killed in action, Hurricane I AS988, on his last combat operation, over Athens, still suffering from combat fatigue and influenza with a fever over 39˚C, he tried to save one of his pilots (F/Lt Woods) from a Bf 110 before two other Bf 110s of Zerstorergeschwader (ZG) 26 shot him down over on the east coast of the island of Psitallea, outside the harbor of Piraeus, some five miles SW of Athens. Surviving records show among the German claimants were Staffelkapitan Hauptmann Theodor Rossiwall and Oberleutnant Sophus Baagoe who were credited with kills against Hurricanes, taking their scores to 12 and 14 respectively. It cannot be known for certain which one shot down Pattle
Commemoration
Grave Reference:
 Column 239.
Cemetery:
 ALAMEIN MEMORIAL
Country:
 Egypt
Additional Information
Decorations:
 D F C and bar
Citations:
 1st award of DFC - LG 11 February 1941 pg. 832 - "For gallantry and devotion to duty in the execution of air operations." Bar to DFC - LG 18 March 1941 pg. 1601 - "In March, 1941, during an engagement over Himara, Flight Lieutenant Pattle shot down three enemy fighters. This courageous and skillful fighter pilot has now destroyed at least 23 aircraft."
Son of Cecil John St. John Pattle and Edith Pattle, of Boksburg, Transvaal, South Africa. Born Butterworth, Cape Province. He was an ace with a very high score, and is sometimes noted as being the highest scoring British and Commonwealth pilot of the Second World War. He has been unofficially credited with about 50 victories. In total, 26 victims were Italian; 15 were downed with Gladiators, the rest with Hurricanes. He is considered to be the highest scoring ace on both Gladiator (15 victories) and Hurricane (35 victories) fighters.