AR banner
Search Tips Advanced Search
Back to Top

• Kracker Archive
• Allied Losses
• Archiwum Polish
• Paradie Canadian
• RCAF
• RAAF
• RNZAF
• USA
• Searchable Lists

Info LogoAdd to or correct this story with a few clicks.
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.
771 crest

Operation: Target Towing

Date: 05 March 1943 (Friday)

Unit: No. 771 Squadron (Non Nobis Solum - 'Not unto us alone'). Fleet Air Arm

Type: Defiant TT.I

Serial: DR937

Code: -

Base: RNAS Twatt - HMS Tern

Location: Wide Firth, Orkney's

Pilot: Sub/Lt. (A) Jack Campbell Patterson RNZNVR Age 21. Missing - believed killed

Crew: L/A. Richard Stark RN Survived - seriously injured

REASON FOR LOSS:

On a target towing exercise over Scapa Flow. Taking off from RNAS Hatston to restart the exercise after landing with an engine overheating problem. Nothing was discovered and so after the engine had cooled down Sub/LAt. Patterson decided to continue to RNAS Twatt.

Within minutes the engine let out black smoke and was failing. The pilot attempted to return but was forced to ditch in the waters of the Wide Firth.

Despite attempts by L/A. Stark to free the unconscious pilot he failed and had to cling to wreckage. He was rescued by a boat launch from Shapinsay. Air Sea Rescue carried out searches but nothing could be found of the pilot.

Burial and personal details:

Sub/Lt. (A) Jack Campbell Patterson. New Zealand Naval Memorial, Devonport, Auckland. Panel 9. Born on the 28th December 1921 at Picton. Enlisted on the1st October 1941. Awarded his pilots badge and commissioned on the 19th June 19420. Son of William John Campbell and Florence Jane Patterson (nee Curnow), of York Street,Picton, Marlborough and husband of Kathleen Alberta Patterson, of Picton, New Zealand.

Researched and dedicated to the relatives of this pilot with thanks to Jenifer Lemaire and to the extensive research by Errol Martyn and his publications: “For Your Tomorrow Vols. 1-3”, Auckland Library Heritage Collection, AWMM, Weekly News of New Zealand, Crash Sites Orkney, other sources as quoted below:

KTY 14-03-2021

Pages of Outstanding Interest
History Airborne Forces •  Soviet Night Witches •  Bomber Command Memories •  Abbreviations •  Gardening Codenames
CWGC: Your Relative's Grave Explained •  USA Flygirls •  Axis Awards Descriptions •  'Lack Of Moral Fibre'
Concept of Colonial Discrimination  •  Unauthorised First Long Range Mustang Attack
RAAF Bomb Aimer Evades with Maquis •  SOE Heroine Nancy Wake •  Fane: Motor Racing PRU Legend
Acknowledgements
Sources used by us in compiling Archive Reports include: Bill Chorley - 'Bomber Command Losses Vols. 1-9, plus ongoing revisions', Dr. Theo E.W. Boiten and Mr. Roderick J. Mackenzie - 'Nightfighter War Diaries Vols. 1 and 2', Martin Middlebrook and Chris Everitt - 'Bomber Command War Diaries', Commonwealth War Graves Commission, Tom Kracker - Kracker Luftwaffe Archives, Michel Beckers, Major Fred Paradie (RCAF) and Captain François Dutil (RCAF) - Paradie Archive (on this site), Jean Schadskaje, Major Jack O'Connor USAF (Retd.), Robert Gretzyngier, Wojtek Matusiak, Waldemar Wójcik and Józef Zieliński - 'Ku Czci Połeglyçh Lotnikow 1939-1945', Andrew Mielnik: Archiwum - Polish Air Force Archive (on this site), Anna Krzystek, Tadeusz Krzystek - 'Polskie Siły Powietrzne w Wielkiej Brytanii', Franek Grabowski, Polish graves: https://niebieskaeskadra.pl/, PoW Museum Żagań, Norman L.R. Franks 'Fighter Command Losses', Stan D. Bishop, John A. Hey MBE, Gerrie Franken and Maco Cillessen - Losses of the US 8th and 9th Air Forces, Vols 1-6, Dr. Theo E.W. Boiton - Nachtjagd Combat Archives, Vols 1-13. Aircrew Remembered Databases and our own archives. We are grateful for the support and encouragement of CWGC, UK Imperial War Museum, Australian War Memorial, Australian National Archives, New Zealand National Archives, UK National Archives and Fold3 and countless dedicated friends and researchers across the world.
Click any image to enlarge it

 Click to add your info via ticket on Helpdesk •Click to let us know via ticket on Helpdesk• Click to explore the entire site
If you would like to comment on this page, please do so via our Helpdesk. Use the Submit a Ticket option to send your comments. After review, our Editors will publish your comment below with your first name, but not your email address.

A word from the Editor: your contribution is important. We welcome your comments and information. Thanks in advance.

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: 24 March 2021, 10:49

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