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Gloster Gladiator
of 80 Squadron Royal Air Force flown by Squadron Leader Marmaduke Pattle
in aviation art print by aviation artist M A Kinnear available from
Cranston Fine Arts.
Aircraft side view by M A Kinnear.
Gloster Gladiator Mk II L8011 YK-O.
Aircraft History: Built
by Gloster Aircraft, L8011 was one of a batch of 28 Gladiators delivered
in September 1938 to the Royal Air Force. Allocated to 80 Squadron, L8011
saw service in North Africa and Greece, until it was transferred to the
Royal Hellenic Air Force, 15th December 1940. Squadron
Leader Marmaduke T St. John 'Pat' Pattle, DFC: Born
on 3rd July 1914 in Butterworth, Cape Province, South Africa, 'Pat' Pattle
joined 80 Squadron in 1937. The Squadron was sent to Egypt in April 1938,
and Pattle became a flight commander in 1939. During August 1940 the
Squadron moved up to the Libyan border. Whilst escorting a Lysander,
Pattle's flight was engaged by a force of Italian fighters. Pattle
(claiming 2) was forced to bale out inside Italian territory, but returned
to base the next day. The Squadron moved to Greece in November in support
of Greek forces on the Albanian border. Pattle was awarded the DFC in
February 1941. In March he was awarded a bar to the DFC promoted to
Squadron Leader and given command of 33 squadron equipped with Hawker
Hurricanes Mk I. By this time he was credited with 23 victories. Due to
the chaotic conditions during the British and Greek retreat, records were
lost. However, relying on personal records and memories, it appears that
his score of victories was 50 (possibly as high as 60), making him the
highest scoring RAF pilot of the war. On 20th April 1941, he led the
combined remnants of No.s 33 and 80 squadrons from Eleusis airfield.
Although suffering from influenza and fatigue and on his third sortie of
the day, Pattle led the remaining Hurricanes to intercept a German
formation over Eleusis Bay. He was seen to shoot down a Bf110 but two
other Bf110's then attacked him. Pattle was hit and he was seen slumped
forward in the cockpit of his aircraft as it fell into the Bay.
80 Squadron was formed at Montrose on
the 10th August 1917, and saw action in France, specialising in the ground
attack role. Remaining in Belgium after the war, they moved to Egypt in
May 1919 where it was renumbered 56 the following year. 80 squadron
re-formed at Kenley on 8th March 1937, equipped with Gloster Gauntlets and
Gladiators. Posted to Egypt in May 1938, the squadron joined No.33 to form
a Gladiator Wing for defence of the Suez canal. When Italy entered the
war, 80 squadron was stationed at Amriya equipped with Gladiators and one
Hurricane. In November 1940, the squadron moved to Greece and in February
1941, the squadron equipped with a mixture of Gladiators and Hurricanes
was used on bomber escort duties. In March the Germans came to the aid of
their Italian Allies and on 24th March the squadron was evacuated to Crete
and then to Palestine. In November 1941 they returned to the Western
Desert to take part in the relief of Tobruk. During 1942-43, the squadron
was on defence duties and convoy escort work over the Eastern
Mediterranean. Posted to Italy in January 1944 and then onto the UK, they
were re-equipped with Spitfires Mk IX. 80 Squadron then took part in
bomber escorts, sweeps and armed reconnaissance. They began to re-equip
with the Hawker Tempest, and were used for anti V1 operations. 80 Squadron
was posted to the continent to support the Arnhem landings and roamed over
Germany in the ground attack role. They remained in Germany as part of the
occupation force until 1949. It was then sent to Hong Kong on air defence
duties equipped with Spitfires and Hornets between 1949 and 1955.
Disbanded in 1955, 80 Squadron reformed in Germany as a P R Squadron
equipped with Canberras PR7. They finally disbanded in September 1969.
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Gloster Gladiator Mk II L8011 YK-O. by M A Kinnear.
Aircraft History: Built by Gloster Aircraft, L8011 was one of a batch of 28 Gladiators delivered in September 1938 to the Royal Air Force. Allocated to 80 Squadron, L8011 saw service in North Africa and Greece, until it was transferred to the Royal Hellenic Air Force, 15th December 1940.
Squadron Leader Marmaduke T St. John Pat Pattle, DFC: Born on 3rd July 1914 in Butterworth, Cape Province, South Africa, Pat Pattle joined 80 Squadron in 1937. The Squadron was sent to Egypt in April 1938, and Pattle became a flight commander in 1939. During August 1940 the Squadron moved up to the Libyan border. Whilst escorting a Lysander, Pattles flight was engaged by a force of Italian fighters. Pattle (claiming 2) was forced to bale out inside Italian territory, but returned to base the next day. The Squadron moved to Greece in November in support of Greek forces on the Albanian border. Pattle was awarded the DFC in February 1941. In March he was awarded a bar to the DFC promoted to Squadron Leader and given command of 33 squadron equipped with Hawker Hurricanes Mk I. By this time he was credited with 23 victories. Due to the chaotic conditions during the British and Greek retreat, records were lost. However, relying on personal records and memories, it appears that his score of victories was 50 (possibly as high as 60) making him the highest scoring RAF pilot of the war. On 20th April 1941, he led the combined remnants of No.s 33 and 80 squadrons from Eleusis airfield. Although suffering from influenza and fatigue and on his third sortie of the day, Pattle led the remaining Hurricanes to intercept a German formation over Eleusis Bay. He was seen to shoot down a Bf110 but two other Bf110s then attacked him. Pattle was hit and he was seen slumped forward in the cockpit of his aircraft as it fell into the Bay.
Open edition print. Image size 16.5 inches x 11.5 inches (42cm x 30cm). Price £14.00
ITEM CODE AP0012
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80 Squadron Royal Air Force:
80 Squadron was formed at Montrose on
the 10th August 1917, and saw action in France, specialising in the ground
attack role. Remaining in Belgium after the war, they moved to Egypt in
May 1919 where it was renumbered 56 the following year. 80 squadron
re-formed at Kenley on 8th March 1937, equipped with Gloster Gauntlets and
Gladiators. Posted to Egypt in May 1938, the squadron joined No.33 to form
a Gladiator Wing for defence of the Suez canal. When Italy entered the
war, 80 squadron was stationed at Amriya equipped with Gladiators and one
Hurricane. In November 1940, the squadron moved to Greece and in February
1941, the squadron equipped with a mixture of Gladiators and Hurricanes
was used on bomber escort duties. In March the Germans came to the aid of
their Italian Allies and on 24th March the squadron was evacuated to Crete
and then to Palestine. In November 1941 they returned to the Western
Desert to take part in the relief of Tobruk. During 1942-43, the squadron
was on defence duties and convoy escort work over the Eastern
Mediterranean. Posted to Italy in January 1944 and then onto the UK, they
were re-equipped with Spitfires Mk IX. 80 Squadron then took part in
bomber escorts, sweeps and armed reconnaissance. They began to re-equip
with the Hawker Tempest, and were used for anti V1 operations. 80 Squadron
was posted to the continent to support the Arnhem landings and roamed over
Germany in the ground attack role. They remained in Germany as part of the
occupation force until 1949. It was then sent to Hong Kong on air defence
duties equipped with Spitfires and Hornets between 1949 and 1955.
Disbanded in 1955, 80 Squadron reformed in Germany as a P R Squadron
equipped with Canberras PR7. They finally disbanded in September 1969.
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