hurricane

'Spirit of North Weald' Gate Guardian

“249 Hurricane” Returns to Guard Airfield

On Sunday 18 May 2008, the skies above North Weald Airfield once again echoed to the sound of Hurricane and Spitfire aircraft. The Second World War aircraft were part of the Spirit of North Weald Airfield Open day and Fly-in, a unique event commemorating both the 90th Anniversary of the birth of the RAF and the unveiling of the North Weald Gate Guardian Project; a full sized replica of a Hawker Hurricane of the markings of the RAF’s 56 Squadron, as flown by 249 pilot Tom Neil during the Battle of Britain in September 1940.

the Gate Guardian Project Unveiling of the North Weald Gate Guardian Project

  The unveiling of the North Weald Gate Guardian Project

 

Standard Bearers and Pipers and airfield veterans provided the backdrop to the ceremony as Wing Commander Tom 'Ginger' Neil DFC [who flew the real aircraft, V7313, still in its 56 squadron marking] unveiled a commemoration plaque before a huge crowd of onlookers.

Hurricane and Tom Neil - On Parade with Standard Bearers of RAFA and RBL Tom with Battle of Britain ground crew veterans of 56 and 222 squadrons and Spitfire display pilot Peter Teichman

Tom with Battle of Britain ground crew veterans of 56 and 222 squadrons, and Spitfire display pilot Peter Teichman        

  

During the day, visitors were able to enjoy a large selection of aircraft from the Airfield’s historic aircraft collections; as well as a a flypast and display by a Hurricane, Spitfire and Dakota of the RAF Memorial Flight,  a RAF re-enactment group, veteran cars, WWII military vehicles, children's rides and amusements.

 Gate Guardian Project
Spitfire of the Gate Guardian Project
 

 

 

 

 

 

Tom Neil and Arthur Moreton, after unveiling of commemorative plaque

 

The fund raising event was made possible by the hard work, co-operation and fundraising of Epping Forest District Council, North Weald Parish Council, North Weald Flying Services and Hughmark International as well as many other local organisations. The Hurricane Gate Guardian Project is managed by Epping Forest District Council's Airfield Operations Manager Darren Goodey together with local resident and airfield historian Arthur Moreton.

       

Extract from speech by Arthur Moreton at unveiling:

“German attacks on the airfields of south-east England continued into early September and the aerial battles that took place in the skies over Essex were particularly brutal.

So brutal that 56 Squadron lost 11 aircraft in just five days of fighting and No 151 was reduced to just ten serviceable machines. The loss of pilots on 31st August being so high, that both squadrons became non-operational and were withdrawn to reform. Their replacement squadrons  were 249 [who took over the Hurricanes left behind by 56], 46 and 25 – who had little time to get used to their new surroundings before plunging into action

On 3 September, just as the fighters were taking off, the Luftwaffe again bombed North Weald.  The damage was substantial with aircraft, hangars, living quarters, the operations room and other station buildings destroyed – leaving 5 people dead and 39 injured.

Hurricane V7313, flown by a young pilot officer of 249 squadron but still in the markings of 56 squadron ; returning to his badly damaged  but still operational airfield after battling in the skies over Essex  wrote” far below the whole airfield was hidden beneath a huge grey brown pall of smoke and dust. They’d bombed us! The airfield! The blighters had bombed our airfield!”

The same young pilot flew this aircraft many times, before it was shot down in combat while being flown by another 249 pilot on 12th October. He is credited with destroying more than six enemy aircraft while at North Weald and was awarded the first of his two Distinguished Flying Crosses on October 8th 1940..

Now, Wing Commander Tom “Ginger” Neil, DFC and bar, AFC, AE. RAF retired, he is with us today and I would ask him to unveil the commemoration plaque that will be displayed alongside the aircraft when it is sited at the airfield main gate in September.”

'Spirit of North Weald' Gate Guardian in place

North Weald Airfield Gate Guardian

The Spirit of North Weald has now been mounted on a pedestal, in a dramatic pose, close to the post war control tower and just inside the Airfield entrance security gate. The steel work was handled by David Young of Hanger 39, assisted by UK Lift and Haul and airfield operations team members John Ramage and Colin Lanson. On 19th April 2009 the Gate Guardian was dedicated, along with plaques recording the names of the sponsors. The ceremony was performed by Rev. Rayner Harris MBE. Once again Tom Neil took part in the ceremony. He was assisted by Wng. Cdr. John Beazley and wartime ground crew John Gill and ‘Dixie’ Heron. A colour party from the recently reformed 56 Squadron was also present.

William Blair Pattulo

Memorial plaque to Pilot Officer William Blair Pattulo
 
25th October 1940 was a day of heavy daylight air raids on London.  In the late morning North Weald pilot, P/O Pattullo took off in his Hurricane from North Weald satellite airfield Stapleford Tawney.  He damaged a ME 109 but then his own plane was badly damaged by enemy fire.  Attempting a forced landing he landed on the A12 Road in Harold Park and struck a house.  He was badly injured and died the following day in hospital.  He is buried in the Commonwealth War Grave section of St Andrew Parish Church, North Weald.

The grave of William Blair Pattulo

 

 

On the 60th anniversary of the crash a Memorial Plaque was unveiled on the house.  The unveiling was performed by Mrs Annette Pattullo Martin, P/O Pattullo’s sister, before a distinguished audience, including the Chilean Air Attache (of which more later), the Mayor of Harold Hill, other family connections, representatives of the RAF and various organisations.     

Prior to the unveiling a Dedication service was held in St Paul’s Church, Harold Hill, conducted by the Rev. Russell Moul, who also led the service at the house.  After the unveiling, refreshments were served in St Paul’s Church Hall giving guests the opportunity to circulate and reminisce.

The plaque was the inspiration of SAC Joel M E Diggle of RAF Coltishall who arranged the event.  Everyone involved thought it was a superbly organised occasion.
 

 

 

 

On the 25th October 1940 a schoolboy had witnessed the crash and saw the pilot removed from the plane by the emergency services.  He was Geoff Walton and 50 years later he decided to research the crash and find out who the pilot was.  He discussed the project with Norman Jennings, a former teacher at the school Geoff attended.  They determined to research it together.  After finding that the pilot was P/O Pattullo the rest was not easy.  The problem was that P/O Pattullo was born in Chile of Scots parents who were working there.  To make things more difficult the birth was not recorded at the British Consulate for seven years.  The story of how they traced the family is told in their book, “Search for One of the Few”, by Norman Jennings and Geoff Walton.

Unveiling of the memorial plaque to William Blair Pattulo

                                                                 

Mrs Annette Pattulo Martin and SAC Joel M E Diggle When P/O Pattullo was 19 he left Chile to come to the UK to join the RAF.  Hence the reason for the presence of Chilean Defence Attaché.

The Mayor of Harold Hill and guests at the memorial event           

                      ©  W H Aitken    Photographs  E M Aitken

 

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