Harry A. "Pat" Pattinson

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SEVEN AIR FORCE STUDENTS TAKING TEST AT LOCAL PORT

Aero Club of Today Far Cry From Embryonic Steps Taken By Jack V. Elliot
Jean Cowman Has Seen It All

20 July 1940 - Seven young R.C.A.F. student flyers will take their tests tonight at Hamilton Aero Club from Chief Instructor Ernie Taylor. Those passing — and from marks they have established all through the eight weeks' course, none should have difficulty — will join the legion of skilled airmen Hamilton has contributed to the aviation world.
Since Jack V. Elliot, father of commercial aviation in Canada, started his Elliot Air Service here and later merged it with International Airways, aviation has made tremendous strides in this locality. Hamilton Aero Club and the commercial schools have turned out scores of pilots who hold important posts in the department of transport, R.C.A.F., R.A.F., Trans-Canada Airlines, and in commercial aviation. The city has two aeroplane factories, Cub Aircraft Corporation and White Canadian Aircraft.

Watched Development
No person has watched this development closer than Miss Jean Cowman, secretary of the Hamilton Aero Club, who during the days of the first airmail here had the teletype signature of "Sunshine." No less an aviation personage than J. B. Wilson, controller of civil aviation, paid tribute to Miss Cowman's contribution to the flying game here when he stopped at Hamilton during the weekend while en route to Windsor to open an extension of Trans-Canada Airlines to the border.
Literally hundreds of gallant young flyers in all branches of aviation, military and civil, testify to Miss Cowman's helpful interest in their progress.
She is truly an aviation pioneer here. She served with International Airways around the time that Jack Elliot asked and got $1,000 cash as a first payment on a course in flying. She witnessed first flying efforts on the old Beach road fields and later saw the transfer of activities to the present civic airport.

Praised By Students
Perhaps the best tribute to her was the attitude of the seven young student flyers as they concluded their day's stint at the airport yesterday. They included her in their comment on the day's progress in piling up the desired 50 hours' flying time. They mentioned problems they had encountered in the courses in rigging, aero engineering, theory of flight, airmanship, air navigation and signalling.
"We should get through okay tomorrow, eh Jean?" one of them inquired.
"I hope so," Miss Cowman smiled in return. The seven, J.M. Bradley, A.S. Johnston and D.J. Smith, Toronto; A.S. Burrill, Oakville; K. W. McLaren, Sarnia; D.E. Filer, Niagara Falls, and J.W. St. John, Grimsby, will be succeeded by another class, just as eager in their studies, and just as appreciative of the friendship of Jean Cowman.
Jean is especially proud of the record that Chief Instructor Taylor has piled up for the Hamilton club, which is participating in the flying clubs' program of training under the R.C.A.F. Others taking part are Windsor, Brantford, St. Catharines and Kitchener. The local club has turned out pilots of uniformly high rating, departmental reports show.
Graduating here as leading aircraftsmen with a thorough course of instruction in flying and ground school training back of them, they can aim at some of the records established by other products of Hamilton aero activities.
Other Hamilton Aero Club men in the R.C.A.F. in various capacities are Oscar Feast, bandmaster of the 119th Bomber Squadron; James Frame, Robert Tilbury, Harry Pattinson, Jerry Bell, Glen I. Wonnacott, Joseph Reid, Dr. R. Matchett, Dr. J.W. Tice. Dr. Henry Peacock, Alex R. McDonald, Jack Brittan, Gordon Hunter, Laird Jennings.

Now in England
With the R.A.F. in England are Basil Vansickle, Ray Tufford, Bud Keller, A.W. Lawson, Norris Hart, J.L. Leeds, G.S. Levy and Paul Delorme.
Two club instructors who leave to take up duties at the Windsor club are Albert J. Lewis, and Jack Bradford, who have done splendid work here. Lloyd Dean leaves for Trenton shortly to take a special course lasting three weeks.

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'Have a Job On,' Airmen Told as Wings Awarded

By F.D. VAN LUVEN. (Staff Writer, The Globe and Mail) Camp Borden, 28 April 1941 — Destined to pilot bombers over Germany or fighter planes in the defense of Britain, the twentieth group of leading aircraftmen graduated this evening from No. 1 Service Flying Training School.
First outdoor "wings parade" held at Borden since last fall, the ceremony was held just before sunset in a hollow square formed by yellow and silver planes on the tarmac in front of the hangars.
"You will have some rough and unpleasant moments ahead of you, but the job has to be done," the graduating class was advised by Squadron Leader Albert Carter, who presented the wings.
The group was one of the largest since the school opened. Almost without exception, since the Air Training Plan was started, the classes have become progressively larger.
Although most of the graduates were Canadians, twenty-two of them from Ontario alone, there were also five from the United States, one Free Frenchman and an Australian.
The young Frenchman did not want his name published. His father has a business in occupied France. He is still there, although sympathetic to the British and Free French cause, but the boy's mother was a proud spectator here today.
Four of the Americans had much the same story to tell. They had tired of waiting for Uncle Sam to get into the fight, so had come to Canada to join the air force.
They are R.J. Crot, Chicago; C. Kleckner, Washington, D.C.; E.W. Spradley, Oklahoma City, and K.K. Kimbro, Lubbock, Texas.

"Just Stepping Stone"
"You have done fine work here, but you're not through yet," Squadron Leader Carter reminded the class. "You have a bit more to learn. This is one of your proudest moments, but it is only another stepping stone in your chosen service lives.
"Above all, keep yourselves physically fit, so you will always be ready and able to do your job. Keep yourselves so that you’ll be able through your skill and endurance to give your best whenever you must."
After lauding the work and heroism of the Royal Air Force in all parts of the world battlefront and praising the co-operation of ground crews at Borden, Squadron Leader Carter wished all members "Godspeed, good luck and good hunting!"
Group Captain R.S. Granby, O.B.E., the commanding officer, added a few words of praise, said he was proud to have been their C.O. and wished them every success.
Ontario graduates included the following: F.S. Hastie, W.W.L. Beatty, K.A. MacKenzie, F. Butler, W.F. Peck, J.W.C. Langmuir, A.C. Ellis, E.A. Russell, T.H. Donnelly, S.D. Ritchie, F.S. Buck, S.S. Martin, S.R. Frankling, G.E. Horricks, W.M. Howes and H.R. Heyes, all of Toronto, C.B. St. John, Gravenhurst; R. Mendizabel, Sarnia; H.F. Crawford, New Toronto; H.A. Pattinson, Hamilton; G.W. Richter, Brantford, and H.R. Studer, Capreol.

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Veteran Aero Club Flyer Has Received His Wings

29 April 1941 - Leading Aircraftman H.A. Pattinson, 19 Holton Avenue North, former member of the No. 119 (Bomber-Reconnaissance) Squadron, R.C.A.F., who received his pilot's license at the Hamilton Aero Club two years ago, was awarded his pilot's wings yesterday at the No. 1 Service Flying Training school, Camp Borden, Ont. He was in the 20th group of pilots to graduate from the school, ready to fly bombers deep into Germany or to pilot Britain's deadly new fighters in the defence of the Mother Country. The ceremony took place out of doors — the first to be held in the open since last fall — and the emblems of proficiency were presented to graduates by Squadron-Leader Albert Carter. The class was one of the largest to graduate from Camp Borden, and although most of the graduates were Canadians, five were from the United States, one was a Free Frenchman and one an Australian.

P/O Pattinson

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Harry was in good company with 403 squadron in August 1943 as it was a veritable "dream team" at that time with notables such as W/C Johnnie Johnson, Tommy Brannagan, Art Coles, Mac Gordon, Cap Foster, Bob Middlemiss, Jimmy Lambert, Dean Dover, Bitsy Grant, Harry Dowding, Danny Browne, Pierre Lecoq and others. For a larger picture and full listing of names click here

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HAMILTON PILOT WITH FIRST UNIT TO REACH BURMA
F/L Harry Pattinson Flies Fighter Out of Akyab — Joined 119th

6 Feb. 1945 - F/L Harry Pattinson, son of Harry Pattinson, sen., 19 Holton avenue, is in the first formation of fighter pilots to arrive at the newly occupied base in Akyab, Burma, according to a recent press release.
The landings, the first made by R.A.F. fighters in Burma for two years, were made without difficulty after Akyab island fell to British and Indian troops in a combined operation. Among the pilots of the fighter formation are six Canadian members of the Wingate expedition of last spring.
F/L Pattinson joined the 119th Bomber Squadron on the first night of its formation in 1936, and transferred to the permanent air force before the outbreak of the war, reverting from the rank of corporal in the former bombing squadron. In 1940 he applied for air crew and again lost his rank as corporal to become an aircraftman in the air crew.

Trained at Borden
He began his flying training at Camp Borden and in April, 1941, received his wings. The next day he was commissioned. He reported to the 118th Squadron at Rockcliffe, Ottawa. In April, 1942, he received his flying officer rank. F/L Pattinson has the Coronation Medal.
Before enlisting in the permanent air force he was an employee of the Halliday Company. While attending school he was a member of the Prince of Wales School cadets, and later the Hamilton Technical Institute cadets.

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RELATIVES WAIT FOR HOURS TILL FLYERS ARRIVE
R.C.A.F. Draft Late in Reaching Armouries, But Reception Enthusiastic

13 September 1945 - Relatives and friends of members of the R.C.A.F. draft which was originally scheduled to arrive at 10:30 last evening, waited nearly two hours later before the busses bearing the 120 veterans pulled in from Toronto. Grandmothers and little kiddies alike had no alternative but to stand behind the rope barricade until 12:25, when it was announced over the loudspeaker that the men had arrived.
Excitement ran quickly through the waiting crowd of people who had stood first on one foot and then on the other, some of them since before 10 o'clock. When the men marched into the drill hall, fathers expressed pent-up emotion by waving their hats, and mothers fluttered handkerchiefs. The boys themselves, baggage piled upon their shoulders, looked eagerly among the crowd for first glimpses of their families. Some girls, rushed out into the line of men before they were broken off, to fling themselves into the arms of sweethearts and brothers.
Many officers of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders of Canada (P.L.) remained after a special parade of officers to witness the heart-warming sight of families reunited after years of separation. The pipe band of the regiment, under the leadership of Pipe-Major John Cairns, entertained the gathering and headed the parade of men into the reception centre. Lost By Minutes
Mrs. D. P. Begin, of 40 Allan Avenue, an English war bride from Bournemouth, lost a dollar to her father-in-law, Charles Begin, because her husband did not arrive on her 21st birthday. Her husband, Cpl. D. P. Begin, was just 25 minutes too late to help celebrate his wife's birthday anniversary. Mrs. Begin said that she had made the bet a week ago that the corporal would arrive on that special day, but she did not volunteer the name of the holder of bets. It was suggested that she could collect the money under the Standard time system.
Flight.-Lieut. Harry Pattinson of 19 Holton Avenue North was among returning personnel. A former member of the Hamilton Aero Club, he enlisted before the declaration of war and is attached to the permanent force. He is a member of the original 119th Bombing Squadron, and was a member of the same squadron as British air ace Wing-Cmdr. J. E. Johnson, D.S.O and Bar, D.F.C. and Bar, D.F.C (U.S.A.). Flight Lieut. Pattinson served in Canada, Alaska, and Europe and briefly in Burma and India.
Controller Hugh McIntyre welcomed the men officially on behalf of the city. Donald McLaren, Y.M.C.A., acted as master of ceremonies. Mrs. R. C. Furness,, commandant, office administration section, Canadian Red Cross Corps, with Clerks Joyce Marshall and Janet Sidorkewicz, were on hand. L.-Cpl. Eleanor Blatz was the Red Cross driver. The Salvation Army offered refreshments to all returned men and their families.
The following organizations, supplying transportation, and assisting in welcoming arrangements, were represented: citizens' committee, Canadian Red Cross Corps, Rotary Club, Lions Club, Automobile Club, Central Legion, Maccabees Legion and the Y.M.C.A. A platoon of the Central Legion acted as special police at the barricade.

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Victories Include :

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