JOHN LAWRENCE TRAVIS RFN-The Kings Royal Rifle Corps Service No 14189687
A Londoner, who as a lad endured ‘The Blitz’ and was a member of the Kings Royal Rifles
At the time of the ‘troubles ‘ in Palestine 1948 and also served with the same regiment with the
British army occupation of West Germany in 1952. John was a long serving member and Committee
member of the Napier Aero Club and was their Club Captain for a number of years, he also held a private pilots license.
He helped establish the HB Aviation Heritage Association from it’s early days, A member of our Committee,
always ready in welcoming our visitors on “ Chat days ‘ and made sure they were introduced to the members,
keeping everyone happy with a ‘cuppa ‘. John was also very involved with the Military Vehicles Collectors associations,
owning himself a
X US Army Jeep that was always kept in an immaculate condition. From his link with these groups,
he organisid a large contingent of military vehicles from as far away as Wanganui to a special Air Show held on the HB Airport in 1997.
Along with all the visiting aircraft they attracted a large interested public and assisted in ensuring the Air Show was a financial success.
Sincere sympathy to Mrs Travis from all the members of HB Aviation Heritage
We will all miss john’s presence at our committee meetings and ‘chat days’
OUR FRIEND, OUR PATRON, JOHNNIE PATTISON
PASSED AWAYON FRIDAY THE 11'th OF SEPTEMBER, 2009
THE FUNERAL WAS HELD AT St LUKES ANGLICAN CHURCH HAVELOCK NORTH
ON THURSDAY THE 17th OF SEPTEMBER2009
Squadron Leader John Gordon Pattison DSO DFC Legion d’Honneur
Was the Commanding officer of No 66 Fighter Sqn RAF and No 485 RoyalNew Zealand Airforce Spitfire Squadron through WW11 John was one of ‘the few’ who fought in the Battle of Britain.
On returning to New Zealand after WW2 he became a well known and respected Hawke’s Bay farmer for a number of years .He had many set backs in war and in peace and managed to rise above them. The loss of his wife and a fire at his home destroying all his service material photos and records including his valued log books a tragedy for any man.
Through all this, His humor and laughing smile and outlook on life was an example for us all.
Johnnie Pattison joined our Aviation Heritage group from it’s inception, before our registration as an incorporated society and attended most of our gatherings for a number of years and always a special guest at our annual dinners
Along with Max Collett, the other local x member of 485 Squadron, they both added their endorsement
and support to what we were attempting to do, providing the impetus for us to continue on up to this day.
Johnnie Pattison will be sadly missed by us all
WAIROA MUSEUM PROJECT
A recent trip to Wairoa by four of our members
resulted in a very satisfactory arrangement with
the Curator/Manager of the Wairoa Museum. This
will enable our Association to work with the
Museum
in presenting an interesting display of
Wairoa’s Aviation history.
It is hoped to complete this some time early
2011.
The project has been
made possible by a grant from the Wairoa Pam
Corbett Trust
and we are most grateful for this opportunity to
co operate with the Museum to
display the large collection of photos and
material already gathered so far.
It has been very
interesting to discover how well the Wairoa folk
have been preserving their
aviation history. An article to be published In
the Wairoa Star will we hope turn up further
photos
and information particularly covering the early
Aerial Top Dressing Industry and the members of
the
Air Force from the Wairoa Nuhaka district who did
not return from action in WW1 & 2 for various
reasons
ie; killed in action and discovered
opportunity’s in the Aviation industry
outside the district . We have made every
endeavor to locate the photographer of the Museum
and Wairoa Aerial
we will remove and replace if there is an
objection to their use.
485 NEW ZEALAND
SPITFIRE PILOTS REUNION 2009
Max Collett, 485s
dedicated squadron historian organised the
squadron's annual reunion again,
this time at the Wairakei Hotel, Taupo.Although
the members are becoming a little older
with each reunion, this year had a fair
attendance of twelve of the veterans, out of a
mailing list
of twenty four (others were unable to attend due
to health or other reasons.
However the occasion was enjoyed by all according
to Max.
This year was
a particularly special occasion
with the unveiling of a fine oil painting
of
Johnnie Pattison, a former 485
Commanding Officer.
The
portrait was painted by
RNZAF Wing Commander Andrew Clark
seen here on the left with John Pattison.
Johnnie
Pattison is also the Patron
of HB Aviation Heritage.
The portrait was
painted by RNZAF Wing Commander Andrew Clark,
who commands No 5 Squadron ( that is a part of
485 Wing )fFollowing in the footsteps of
ConleyWW2!
The portrait will be hung and displayed in the
Officers Mess at the Whenuapai RNZAF Base (
Auckland )
NEW ZEALAND 485
SPITFIRE SQUADRON - SPECIAL FEEDBACK
We have received e-mails from several visitors
and folk
who have befriended some of the 485 Squadron
pilots over the years.
One who happened to
mow the late Keith. J. MacDonald’s lawns a
few years ago in the
Whangaparaoa area – Mark O’Sullivan (
he was a lawn mowing contractor at the time ).
Mark wrote an interesting reflection of his
impressions of Keith and mailed it to us.
He has had an interest in all things
‘aviation’ since the age of ten,
and it was great that he has put his thoughts
down in text for us to load to the site. DOWNLOAD IT HERE [pdf
file]
Another mail
from Denis Clough of Rotorua a local
historian
and WW2 researcher covering the Rotorua
Bay of Plenty area,
who became good friends with two of 485
pilots
Desmond O’Halloran and Norby. J.
King.
Sadly, Desmond passed away on the 17th of
December 2008 at Rotorua.
Denis
was given much information by these two X
485 pilots and may be able to later print
up a little of these
two old pilots experiences for our
website. Thankyou, Denis, for your kind
comments re the website.
F/O Hugh
Tucker on right
A new
addition to information of another 485
Sqn Pilot has arrived
from Adrienne Farrell of Napier, Hugh
Tucker’s Niece,
who has fond memories of him, (who also
happens to be a neighbour
of the Editor making this world smaller
and smaller ! ).
F/O Hugh. (
Tommy ) Tucker ( who sadly passed away
in New Plymouth on Thursday 5th of
February 2009.
Hugh was an X
Wairarapa lad involved in a number of missions
who managed to, with three other 485 pilots,
shoot down six enemy aircraft in about as many
minutes.
He also managed to miraculously survive a late
pull out of a dive while shooting up a train
engine
on a ‘rhubarb’ into Holland, and
scraped the ground, and still remained airborne,
displaying, on landing his Mark VB Spitfire back
in England a collection of Holland’s soil
and clay
on the breast and wing roots of the aircraft,
also blocking off his gun camera portal .
Along with considerable flack and shell damage,
his radio knocked out, he still made it home !
Possibly
a ‘one off ‘ war time event that we
have not heard of any other WW2 pilot having had
that
spectacular experience and survived !
The Wairarapa Times Age interviewed Hugh in
November 1998 and had an excellent full Editorial
Feature
with his time with 485, we have copy of the page
but it is not in good condition to re print
unfortunately.
Could someone please
email us a good copy of this interesting Feature?
We had not planned to
expand on 485 Squadrons pages but anyone is
welcome to pass on any photos,
text, and stories they may have of this famous
New Zealand Spitfire Squadron for inclusion on
our site.
For further reading , we recommend Kevin W. Wells
illustrated history of the New Zealand Spitfire
Squadron,
(and also to thank him for permission to use
material from his book. )
For those of
our members and visitors online, our
Chairman, Graham Duley,
has been in touch withthe
Sir Keith Park Memorial Organisation,
offering The Hawke’s Bay Aviation
Heritage Association’s unanimous
support
with this well-deserved recognition of
one of New Zealand’s special sons,
who played so an important role with
Britain's Air defence at it’s most
vital period. [
GRAHAM'S LETTER HERE ]
And at
this opportune time, to also recognise
with great respect
Sir Hugh Dowding Commander – in
– Chief
RAF Fighter Command for his special
visionary gift
in devising the defensive strategy .
Along with the many,
many young pilots and ground crews, they won The
Battle of Britain
and turned the tide against the might of the
Luftwaffe.
WE HOPE MANY MORE NEW
ZEALANDERS VISIT THE MEMORIAL PARTITION PAGE AND
SIGN TO ENSURE
SIR KEITH PARK’S STATUE IS PLACED IN
TRAFALGAR SQUARE IN THE HEART OF LONDON.
The
Hawke’s Bay Honours Board We have
completed compiling our Hawke’s
Bay list of Air and Ground crew
who lost their lives through WW11.
We have obtained about 130 images to add
alongside many of the named,
but there are many more images we would
like to have to complete the list.
Every
week, from about the end of 1939 to 1945,
‘The New Zealand Weekly News’
would
publish the list of all three services
with an image photo they obtained from
the family
of those either missing, wounded, killed,
or a Prisoner of war.
If
any you can provide a photo of a family
member where we have a image missing
from the named personnel , we would be
very privileged to have a copy or a photo
to copy and return , to assist us to
complete the list with all the images if
possible.
( Please contact
the Editor or any of our members you may know . )
With
the full knowledge it was not only just
Hawke’s Bay airmen who lost their
lives through WW11
but Army, Navy, and also the Merchant
Navy Personnel.
It happens we are a aviation-orientated
organisation and natural we would head in
this direction,
however given the time and help the
Editor would have been happier covering
all
the HB service personnel and hope one day
some other organisation will take up the
cause
of all the other service folk from
Hawke’s Bay with a special site !
They all gave their lives for the freedom
we all enjoy today. LEST WE FORGET
CLICK BADGE
FOR PROGRAMME AND LIST OF OFFICERS Committee
meets 3rd Tuesday each month,
(except January) in the Hastings RSA Club
7-30pm.
New member, ex-Airforce, ex-ATC or social
guests
are welcome to join.
A
grant from THE EASTERN AND CENTRAL
COMMMUNITY TRUST
has enabled us to have a number of
special occasion cards printed.
Ideal for Christmas, Birthdays, Anzac and
Battle of Britain commemoration days etc.
They are in
packs of four,
complete with postal envelopes.
Each has
"WITH VERY BEST WISHES"
printed within.
They depict
four historical aircraft with
Hawke’s Bay connections: The
DeHaviland Dragon, used by
East Coast
Air Services with a mail & passenger
service
between Gisborne and Napier in the 1930s. Spitfire, two of
these aircraft donated to UK
Government by the people of HB WW2.
Aerial Mapping's Universal
ST25 Monospar,
Piet van Asch first aircraft. DeHavilland
DH82 Tiger Moth belonging to
the Central Hawke’s Bay Aero Club.
AS
YOU WILL SEE THEY ARE A VERY PRFESSIONAL
PRESENTATION
OF THESE VERY SPECIAL AIRCRAFT LINKED TO
HAWKE”S BAY.
We acknowledge contributions from service
personnel
from two World Wars, and to
you - the online visitor -
who makes it all worthwhile.
From a little town of
Sutton, in Surrey UK, a mother writes an open
letter to the mothers
of New Zealand. Over the war years this lady has
opened her home to dozens of service lads,
and now she writes a note of appreciation to the
mothers in New Zealand...read it HERE
RNZAFA - Hastings
branch
Cornmittee meets third Tuesday each month
(except January),
in the Hastings RSA Club at 7.30pm.
New members, Ex-Airforce, Ex-ATC or
Social Guests are welcome to join.
Subs: $10 Singles $17 Double. Due lst.
July each year to the Treasurer.
WITH
OUR SOMETIMES “SPASMODIC “
LOADING OF “FRESH ITEMS”
ON OUR WEBSITE, IT MAY APPEAR WE ARE NO
LONGER “ ON THE JOB”
Every now and again we have to
“drop” preparing and adding web
material,
to gather more detailed information on
the photos, stories etc of the many items
we already hold (and receive almost
weekly now ).
Also to follow up a
“tip off” of material possibly
being disposed of , via an estate clean
up !
With our new members assisting now with
the scanning of photos - albums -and text
etc.
Have you settled in Hawkes
Bay - or originate from the region - and have a
connection with aviation?
Do you have photographs and a story to tell ?
We'd like to hear from you.
Our
website is a special area where we can
gather and pass on information about
Hawkes Bay & New Zealand aviation.
Also, to record the stories and
experiences
of airforce personnel, club flyers and
those with an interest in early aviation.
Our
noticeboard is open to anyone seeking
information of WW1 & WW2
aviation personnel and for others to post
replies.
From time-to-time,
we hold "chat meeting" days.
We will be using this noticeboard to
notify date/time/location. We will
phone this info to members who don't have
access to the internet.
Membership is open
to anyone who has an interest in early
aviation..
or aviation in general, particularly in
the Hawkes Bay region.
We originally set out to cover the
Hawkes Bay region only,
(i.e. profiles of air force personnel who have
either originated from or have settled in HB).
However, we are beginning to receive information
and photos of ex-air force personnel from out of
the region.
Some of these contributions are difficult to
reject. We have therefore created a special "COMRADES" section. Hopefully, other NZ regions will follow
our lead and put their own Aviation Heritage
history on the Web.
There is another excellent site already covering
local aviation history outside our region. We recommend "Wings Over
Cambridge."
