Lot Essay
Sold with original Air Ministry condolence slip.
D.F.C. London Gazette 18.7.1941. Recommendation states 'He has been engaged in a large variety of operations and long flights such as Berlin five times, Magdeburg, Kiel five times, Bordeaux three times, targets in the Ruhr, and the Channel ports, mining operations and the experimental fighter patrols by Hampden aircraft.
On the night of 20 November 1940, he was Air Gunner of an aircraft detailed to attack an oil refinery near Leipzig. Weather conditions were extremely bad, the ground only being visible through small breaks in the cloud. After a considerable time in the target area, the Navigator had been unable to locate the target. Pilot Officer Paterson, however, managed to see it through a gap in the clouds and was able to direct the Navigator on to it thus being responsible for hits being scored. Returning from this operation, weather conditions over England were even worse, with 10/10 cloud almost to ground level. The aircraft became involved with a balloon barrage, the wireless failed, and with petrol running low, the Captain had decided to force land in the sea. At about 300 feet, as the Captain was looking for some place to crash land where assistance might be obtainable, a lighthouse was sighted. Pilot Officer Paterson, although he had no maps, recognised this lighthouse, informed the Captain of its position and enabled the aircraft to be brought safely to land at North Coats. He was thus entirely responsible for bringing the aircraft safely to land.
On five occasions the aircraft in which he has been Air Gunner has been followed by enemy fighters. Due to his early and accurate sighting reports, however, only one of these followings has developed into an attack. On this occasion, the night of 21 March 1941, the aircraft was followed and approached by a Me. 109 whilst crossing Brittany on return from mining operations at Bordeaux. Pilot Officer Paterson gave the Captain of the aircraft clear and accurate reports as to the enemy's movements, thus allowing the Pilot to manoeuvre the aircraft to allow Pilot Officer Paterson, holding his fire to exactly the right moment, to put a good burst into the enemy aircraft. The Me. 109 was seen by all members of the crew to go down in a steep spiral dive, crash and catch fire on the ground.
Pilot Officer Paterson is very much above the average age for Aircrew and in spite of being involved in a crash shortly after his arrival in the Squadron, he has always shown the utmost enthusiasm for flying and operations. His tenacity of purpose is typified by his conduct during the experimental fighter patrols carried out by this Squadron. On 7 December 1940, he was Air Gunner in an aircraft detailed to patrol at 17,000 feet. The heating system failed and Pilot Officer Paterson received frostbite in his hands. In spite of this, on the following evening he was again patrolling, this time at 19,000 feet.
He has shown the greatest interest in the training of new arrivals and has been of great assistance in all aspects of the work of the Squadron'.
Flying Officer Arthur Paterson, D.F.C., had completed 34 operations by the time of the above Recommendation. Although not among the Squadron personnel allocated to attack the Dortmund-Ems Canal on the night of 12.8.1940, when Squadron Leader "Babe" Learoyd won a Victoria Cross, Paterson did participate in the follow up raid on 28.9.1940. Sadly, he died on 27.7.1941, aged 35 years, presumably a result of a flying accident. He left a widow, and is buried in the Stranraer (Glebe) Cemetery, Wigtownshire.
D.F.C. London Gazette 18.7.1941. Recommendation states 'He has been engaged in a large variety of operations and long flights such as Berlin five times, Magdeburg, Kiel five times, Bordeaux three times, targets in the Ruhr, and the Channel ports, mining operations and the experimental fighter patrols by Hampden aircraft.
On the night of 20 November 1940, he was Air Gunner of an aircraft detailed to attack an oil refinery near Leipzig. Weather conditions were extremely bad, the ground only being visible through small breaks in the cloud. After a considerable time in the target area, the Navigator had been unable to locate the target. Pilot Officer Paterson, however, managed to see it through a gap in the clouds and was able to direct the Navigator on to it thus being responsible for hits being scored. Returning from this operation, weather conditions over England were even worse, with 10/10 cloud almost to ground level. The aircraft became involved with a balloon barrage, the wireless failed, and with petrol running low, the Captain had decided to force land in the sea. At about 300 feet, as the Captain was looking for some place to crash land where assistance might be obtainable, a lighthouse was sighted. Pilot Officer Paterson, although he had no maps, recognised this lighthouse, informed the Captain of its position and enabled the aircraft to be brought safely to land at North Coats. He was thus entirely responsible for bringing the aircraft safely to land.
On five occasions the aircraft in which he has been Air Gunner has been followed by enemy fighters. Due to his early and accurate sighting reports, however, only one of these followings has developed into an attack. On this occasion, the night of 21 March 1941, the aircraft was followed and approached by a Me. 109 whilst crossing Brittany on return from mining operations at Bordeaux. Pilot Officer Paterson gave the Captain of the aircraft clear and accurate reports as to the enemy's movements, thus allowing the Pilot to manoeuvre the aircraft to allow Pilot Officer Paterson, holding his fire to exactly the right moment, to put a good burst into the enemy aircraft. The Me. 109 was seen by all members of the crew to go down in a steep spiral dive, crash and catch fire on the ground.
Pilot Officer Paterson is very much above the average age for Aircrew and in spite of being involved in a crash shortly after his arrival in the Squadron, he has always shown the utmost enthusiasm for flying and operations. His tenacity of purpose is typified by his conduct during the experimental fighter patrols carried out by this Squadron. On 7 December 1940, he was Air Gunner in an aircraft detailed to patrol at 17,000 feet. The heating system failed and Pilot Officer Paterson received frostbite in his hands. In spite of this, on the following evening he was again patrolling, this time at 19,000 feet.
He has shown the greatest interest in the training of new arrivals and has been of great assistance in all aspects of the work of the Squadron'.
Flying Officer Arthur Paterson, D.F.C., had completed 34 operations by the time of the above Recommendation. Although not among the Squadron personnel allocated to attack the Dortmund-Ems Canal on the night of 12.8.1940, when Squadron Leader "Babe" Learoyd won a Victoria Cross, Paterson did participate in the follow up raid on 28.9.1940. Sadly, he died on 27.7.1941, aged 35 years, presumably a result of a flying accident. He left a widow, and is buried in the Stranraer (Glebe) Cemetery, Wigtownshire.