Operation: Patrol

Date: 27th September 1940 (Friday)

Unit: No. 92 Squadron (11 Group) (motto: Aut pugna aut morere - 'Either fight or die')

Type: Spitfire I

Serial: X4422

Code: QJ-?

Base: RAF Biggin Hill, Kent

Location: Sparepenny Lane, Farningham

Pilot: Fl/Lt. James Alfred Paterson MBE 36193 RAF Age 20. Killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

Taking off at 08:45 hrs on an interception patrol on a Luftwaffe bomber raid. The squadron intercepted the bombers and engaged them over Sevenoaks in Kent. Luftwaffe fighters then appeared to defend them. Two of the Squadron Spitfires were then shot down.

The other aircraft lost:

Spitfire I R6767 Flown by 25 year old, Fl/Sgt. Charles Sydney 564940 RAF from Orpington in Kent - shot down and killed at 09:40 hrs with the aircraft coming down at Walton-on-Thames.

Later in the day another pilot was lost from the Squadron, Spitfire R6622 flown by 21 year old, Sgt. Trevor Guest Oldfield 819030 RAF (A) shot down at 15:20 hrs over Dartford. See here for further details.

Memorial inscription: 'In memory of Flight Lieutenant James Alfred Paterson MBE of 92 Squadron who lost his life near this spot on 27th September 1940 in Spitfire X4422. He was 20 years old. One of Churchill's few. Memorial dedicated on 27th September 2006 by the Shoreham Aircraft Museum'.

Burial details:

Fl/Lt. James Alfred Paterson MBE. St. Mary Cray Cemetery. Plot E. Div. 3. Grave 129. Born on the 16th October 1919,the son of Samuel Barr Paterson and of Fannie Paterson (née George), of East Chatton, Southland, New Zealand. Grave inscription reads: "Peace Perfect Peace. "One Of The Few".

(note: In general RNZAF did not have inscriptions on their graves, but as Fl/Lt. Paterson was, at the time serving with the RAF this was allowed - see CWGC graves explained)

Others:

Fl/Sgt. Charles Sydney. St. Mary Cray Cemetery. Plot E. Div. 3. Grave 130. Son of Mr. and Mrs. H. Sydney, of St. Mary Cray, Orpington and husband of Ellen Jane Mary Sydney. Grave inscription reads: "He Gave His All For His Country's Call God Rest His Soul In Peace".

Sgt. Trevor Guest Oldfield. Chertsey (St. Stephen's) Church Burial Ground. Plot F. Grave 314. No further details - are you able to assist? Grave inscription reads: "Not Just Today, But Every Day In Silence We Remember".

Researched and dedicated to the relatives of this pilot with thanks to the research by Errol Martyn and his publications: “For Your Tomorrow Vols. 1-3”, Auckland War Memorial Museum, Weekly News of New Zealand, other sources as quoted below.