Archive Report: Allied Forces

Compiled from official National Archive and Service sources, contemporary press reports, personal logbooks, diaries and correspondence, reference books, other sources, and interviews.
Check our Research databases: Database List
.

---

We seek additional information and photographs. Please contact us via the Helpdesk.

---

92 Squadron Spitfire I X3322 Fl/Lt. James Alfred Paterson MBE

Operation: Interception Patrol

Date: 27th September 1940 (Friday)

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

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:

Weather: Fair in the extreme south and south-west. Cloudy in the Channel with light rain over southern England.

Scrambled at 08:45 hours to intercept Bf110's escorted by Bf 109's bound for London. The RAF intercepted when they were over the coast splitting the Luftwaffe force and forcing the bombers to jettison their bomb loads. The majority of the London raiders got no further than the middle of Kent where they were so severely mauled that they retreated in confusion. Some reached the outskirts of the city and twenty slipped through to the centre.

During the day some 57 Luftwaffe aircraft were lost but the RAF also lost 28 aircraft. 92 squadron lost 3 that day, the others:

Spitfire I R6767 flown by 25 year old, Fl/Sgt. Charles Sydney 564940 RAF crashing at Station Avenue, Walton-on-Thames.

Later in the afternoon 21-year-old, Sgt. Trevor Guest Oldfield 819030 RAF (A) flying Spitfire R6622 was shot down and fell at Hesketh Park, Dartford

X4422 was shot down at 09:20 hrs and crashed in Sparepenny Lane, Farningham killing the young New Zealander.

On the 11th September 1940 flying Spitfire I R6613 he was shot down but with his clothes on fire and suffering severe burns to his face he baled out. He insisted on returning to his unit despite still receiving treatment. During the same combat Spitfire I P9464 was flown by P/O. Harry Davies Edwards was listed as missing, the wreckage was finally discovered on the 07th October in woodland at Evegate Manor Farm, Smeeth. 21-year-old, P/O. Frederick Norman Hargreaves 42502 RAF flying Spitfire K9793 was also lost and thought to have crashed into the sea.

Fl/Lt. Paterson was made an MBE (gazetted 1st January 1941) for his outstanding services in France in May 1940.

No. 5 Pilots course, 1 Service Flying Training School, RNZAF Wigram

L-R: Rear; James Alfred Paterson 36193 - killed 27th September 1940, J.A Poulsen, M.J Hunter, Frank Hugh Long 36190 - killed 13th March 1941 (102 squadron Whitley T4326, William John Farnsworth 1064 - killed 21st March 1945 (4 squadron Ventura NZ4518), Albert Samuel Agar 1063 - died 13th December 1985, Ian Lowrie Gray 36188 - killed 12th May 1940 (206 squadron Hudson N7353).

Front; Arthur Mitchell Paape 36192 - killed 03rd April 1943 (467 squadron Lancaster ED524), Thomas Alexder Stewart 41629 - died 01st April 1995. Laurence Hugh Edwards NZ/2341 - PoW 05th September 1939 (206 squadron Anson K6183), George Rodoway MacDonald 36191 - Killed 20th October 1942 (236 squadron Beaufighter EL280), Ernest William Tacon 36196 - died 09th September 2003.

Burial details:

Fl/Lt. James Alfred Paterson MBE. St Mary Cray Cemetery, Orpington. Plot E. Div. 3. Grave 129. Also remembered on the family grave at Waikaka Cemetery. Born on the 16th October 1919 at Dunedin. Selected for RAF short service commission on the 23rd May 1938. Trained with Otago Aero club 0n the 20th June 1938 and obtained his 'A' licence on the 23rd August. RAF pilot badge was awarded on the 17th December 1938. Embarked for England on the 17th April 1939 on the 'Waimarama'. Attached to 82 squadron 03rd June 1939 flying the Blenheim.

Left: His memorial was placed by Shoreham Aircraft Museum on the 27th of September 2006. 'In Memory of Flight Lieutenant James Alfred Paterson M.B.E. Of No.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'.

Attached to the 71 Service Flight flying the Magister on the 01st September 1939. Carried out 3 operational sorties after joining 228 squadron in January 1940. Attached to No. 2 Servicing Flight Section. Whilst in France on the 24th February 1940 was a passenger on a Domino that made a forced landing, no injuries. Flew 3 operational sorties with 501 squadron in June 1940. Trained with 7 Operational Training Unit on the Spitfire on the 02nd July 1940. Carried out over 52 operational sorties with 92 squadron. During a patrol, he was attacked by a Me109 and shot down on the 11th September 1940 suffering burns to his face when baling out. Credited with 1 enemy aircraft destroyed with a further 2 shared. Son of Samuel Barr Paterson (died 13th December 1945, age 54) and of Fannie Paterson (née George - died 24th July 1972, age 81), of East Chatton, Southland, New Zealand. Grave inscription: 'Peace Perfect Peace. "One Of The Few'.

Fl/Sgt. Charles Sydney. St Mary Cray Cemetery, Orpington. Plot E. Div. 3. Grave 130. Son of Mr. and Mrs. H. Sydney, of St. Mary Cray, Orpington; husband of Ellen Jane Mary Sydney. Grave inscription: '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. Born in June 1919 in Hackney, London. Son of Archie Oldfield (died 18th April 1966, age 81) of Chertsey, London, England. Grave inscription: 'Not Just Today But Every Day In Silence We Remember'.

P/O. Harry Davies Edwards. Hawkinge Cemetery. Plot O. Row 1. Grave 31. Born on the 15th August 1916 in Manchester, his family later moved to Winnipeg in Canada. Joined 92 squadron in October 1939. Son of John Harry (died 09th December 1951) and Emily Maud Edwards (died 28th May 1969), of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Grave inscription: 'In Loving Memory Of Harry Of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Nobly He Lived Gloriously He Died. We Will Remember Him'.

Edwards Hill northeast of Macleod Lake, Manitoba was named after him in 1995.

P/O. Frederick Norman Hargreaves. Runnymede Memorial. Panel 8. Born on 19th April 1917 in Whitefield, Lancashire. Joined the squadron on the 22nd March 1940. Son of James Frederick Raymond Hargreaves and Annie Hargreaves, of Manchester, England.

Researched and dedicated to the relatives of this pilot with thanks to the extensive research by Errol Martyn and his publications: “For Your Tomorrow Vols. 1-3”, Auckland Library Heritage Collection, Weekly News of New Zealand, Air Force Museum, 'A Place of Honour' the Battle of Britain Monument, other sources as quoted below:

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning we will remember them. - Laurence Binyon
All site material (except as noted elsewhere) is owned or managed by Aircrew Remembered and should not be used without prior permission.
© Aircrew Remembered 2012 - 2025 Last Modified: 26 January 2022, 17:26

Monitor Additions/Changes?Click to be informed of changes to this page. Create account for first monitor only, thereafter very fast. Click to close without creating monitor