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Barrett · 26 December 1998, 08:22 PM

Al: If the WW 2 aircrews got twice as many VCs as the 14-18 guys, it's probably due to the much larger air force in 39-45--many times the flying personnel, I'd guess. Where the discrepancy really shows, however, is in fighter pilots: a dozen or so in WW I and only one the next time, and that was a Canadian (I can hear the cheering from here) Corsair pilot KIA practically the last day of hostilities: Robert Hampton Gray. His award wasn't for aerial combat, but for pressing an attack on a Jap escort vessel.
Whatever the WW II criteria may have been, I submit that the most overlooked British Empire aviator was Pattle, whose results were so far beyond anyone else that he certainly should have been nominated for a posthumous VC. My guess is that due to the loss of wartime records (since reconstructed from many sources) that the hierarchy didn't realize the extent of his actions in N Africa and Greece in 1941.
It raises an interesting question: does the VC charter permit consideration of awards this long after the event? Pattle's exploits are well documented from both the RAF and enemy side, so there's some rationale for it. Comments?

26 December 1998, 08:22 PM	#2 (permalink)
Barrett Forum Ace of Aces Join Date: Aug 1998 Location: The American West Posts: 4,809	Al: If the WW 2 aircrews got twice as many VCs as the 14-18 guys, it's probably due to the much larger air force in 39-45--many times the flying personnel, I'd guess. Where the discrepancy really shows, however, is in fighter pilots: a dozen or so in WW I and only one the next time, and that was a Canadian (I can hear the cheering from here) Corsair pilot KIA practically the last day of hostilities: Robert Hampton Gray. His award wasn't for aerial combat, but for pressing an attack on a Jap escort vessel. Whatever the WW II criteria may have been, I submit that the most overlooked British Empire aviator was Pattle, whose results were so far beyond anyone else that he certainly should have been nominated for a posthumous VC. My guess is that due to the loss of wartime records (since reconstructed from many sources) that the hierarchy didn't realize the extent of his actions in N Africa and Greece in 1941. It raises an interesting question: does the VC charter permit consideration of awards this long after the event? Pattle's exploits are well documented from both the RAF and enemy side, so there's some rationale for it. Comments? __________________ You will not rise to the occasion: You will default to your level of training.