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Maj. Gen. Cuthbert A. "Bill" Pattillo - Pilot |
487th Fighter Squadron, 352nd Fighter Group |
United States Air Force Thunderbird #3 |
A Distinguished Veteran |
| Cuthbert "Bill" Pattillo and his twin brother, Charles, were born seven minutes apart on June 3, 1924, in Atlanta, Georgia. He graduated from Atlanta Technical High School in 1942, and enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps in November, 1942 as an aviation cadet. After receiving training in the P-40 Warhawk (specifications), he received his pilot wings and commission as a second lieutenant at Marianna, Florida, in March, 1944. He went to the European Theater and was assigned to the 487th Fighter Squadron, 352nd Fighter Group, the famous "Bluenosed Bastards of Bodney". He flew 35 combat missions in the P-51D Mustang (specifications), (HO-Y), number 44-11556, which he called "Sweet and Lovely". He shot down an ME-262 on April 10, 1945. On April 16, 1945, he destroyed six and damaged one enemy aircraft on the ground while strafing an airdrome near Straubing, Germany, and was later shot down by ground flak. He crashed landed in a farmer's plowed field, and became a POW until the end of the war. He was released from active duty in December, 1945, and he and his brother enrolled as engineering students at the Georgia Institute of Technology. While attending school, he participated in the Reserve Military Program as a flight commander of the 54th Fighter Wing of the Georgia National Guard, flying the P-47 Thunderbolt (specifications). |
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| 'Bill' Pattillo with brother 'Buck' Pattillo |
| Air Demonstration Teams |
| In February, 1948, he was recalled to active duty as a P-51 pilot, and was assigned to the 31st Fighter Group in Albany, Georgia. He was assigned with his brother as P-80 pilots to the 36th Fighter Group, Furstenfeldbruck, Germany, and while there, he and his brother assisted in organizing and flying with the USAF Europe Aerial Demonstration Team, the "Skyblazers", flying the P-80 and F-84. In October, 1952, he was assigned to Pinecastle Air Force Base, Florida, as a fighter gunnery instructor with the 3542nd Flying Training Squadron. In March, 1953, he was assigned to Luke Air Force Base, Arizona, as a fighter gunnery instructor along with his brother Charles. They helped organize the original United States Air Force Aerial Demonstration Team, the "Thunderbirds" (Thunderbirds are featured in "Teamwork at its Finest"). He flew right wing while his brother flew left wing. |
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| (Photo of recently restored aircraft courtesy of Bob Baker) |
| Further Education and War |
| In November, 1955, he became the Air Operations Officer with the 613th Fighter-Bomber Squadron, and later commanded the 615th Fighter Squadron, 401st Tactical Fighter Wing, at England Air Force Base, Louisiana. In September, 1959, he entered the University of Colorado, and after earning a degree in mathematics, he joined the 4450th Standardization and Evaluation Group in Langley, Virginia. After completing his assignment to the Army War College in 1965, he was promoted to Colonel and reassigned as Deputy Commander of Operations with the 50th Tactical Fighter Wing, Hahn Air Base, Germany. Upon this assignment, he and his twin brother were separated for the first time in over 23 years of military service. In August, 1968, he was vice commander of the 3rd Tactical Fighter Wing at Bien Hoa Air Base, Vietnam, flying the F-100, and became commander of the 31st Tactical Fighter Wing at Tuy Hoa Air Base, also flying the F-100. He flew 230 combat missions during his tours of duty in Vietnam. In October, 1969, he was assigned to the Tactical Air Command headquarters at Langley, Virginia, and was promoted to Brigadier General in 1970. On September 1, 1972, he was promoted to Major General and assigned to the Headquarters, United States Air Force, as Director of Operations for the USAF. He was assigned in May, 1974 to the Allied Air Forces Central Europe (NATO) as Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations and Intelligence. He was assigned to the United States Readiness Command, MacDill Air Force Base, Florida, as Director of Plans and Policy (J-5), in July, 1977. He retired from active duty in 1980, with over 5,000 flying hours. |
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| Medals and Awards |
| Major General Pattillo was awarded the Silver Star, the Distinguished Flying Cross with oak leaf cluster, Air Medal with 13 oak leaf clusters, Distinguished Service Medal with two oak leaf cluster, Legion of Merit with two oak leaf clusters, Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster, Army Commendation Medal, Prisoner of War Medal, Distinguished Unit Citation emblem with oak leaf cluster, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award Ribbon, French Croix de Guerre with palm, and Republic of Vietnam Honor Medal, 1st class. |
| 'Bill' Pattillo is one of our Rogue's Gallery members. |
| (Thanks are due Sam Sox for photos and 'Bill' for stories) |
| Thunderbird 50th Anniversary Commemorative Covers |
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