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Lot of General Cuthbert A. "Bill" Pattillo Flight Gear One of The Organizers of The Original U.S.A.F

Currency:USD Category:Antiques / Firearms & Armory Start Price:400.00 USD Estimated At:NA
Lot of General Cuthbert A.  Bill  Pattillo Flight Gear One of The Organizers of The Original U.S.A.F
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Estimate: $1000 - 1800
This lot consists of a green CWU-36/P size large flight jacket, a blue wool size medium heavy flying shirt, blue size medium regular light flying suit, an orange size medium long men's coverall flying suit with Colonel eagles on each shoulder, an orange "coverall, flying , man's very light K-28" with blue and white cloth patch on left chest "BILL PATTILLO/COL. USAF", Colonel eagles on each shoulder and "50th TAC FTR. WG" patch on the left shoulder. A green size 40RCWU-27P flying coveralls with Tactical Air Command patch on the right chest and leather "C.A. PATTILLO" patch on the left chest, a blue cotton flying coveralls with leather "C.A. PATTILLO" patch on the left chest and leather Two Star General insignia sewn to the shoulders and a Thunderbirds collar. General Cuthbert A. "Bill" Pattillo and his twin brother both served in the U.S.A.A.F. during WWII as pilots and in 1953 the two helped organize the original United States Air Force Aerial Demonstration Team, the "Thunderbirds". Pattillo was commissioned an USAC 2nd Lieutenant and was assigned to the 486th fighter Squadron, 352nd Fighter Group, the famous "Bluenosed Bastards of Bodney". He flew 37 combat missions in the P-51D Mustang "Sweet & Lovely" and was credited with five air-to-ground victories. (As a footnote, Bob Baker of Oklahoma named his P-51 "Sweet & Lovely" with the 352nd colors and won best plane in show for the Oskosh Air Show several years ago.) In 1945 he and his brother enrolled as engineering students at the Georgia Institute of Technology and while attending school he participated in the Reserve Military Program with the 128th Fighter Squadron, 54th fighter Wing of the Georgia Air National Guard flying a F-47 Thunderbolt. He was recalled to active duty in March 1948 as a P-51 pilot and was assigned to the 31st Tactical Fighter Wing at Turner Air Force Base in Georgia. In 1949 he and his brother were assigned as P-80 pilots to the 22nd Fighter Squadron, 36th fighter Group, Furstenfeldbruck, Germany. While there the two assisted and flew with the U.S.A.F.-Europe/NATO Aerial Demonstration Team, the "Skyblazers" flying the P-80 and F-84 fighters. In October 1952 he was assigned as a fighter gunnery instructor with the 3542nd Squadron at Pinecastle Air Force Base, Florida (F-80s and F-84s). At Luke Air Force Base (1953) he and his brother as gunnery officers were instrumental in forming the "Thunderbirds", the first U.S. Air Force aerial demonstration team. From July 1956 to November 1959 General Pittillo served with the 401st Tactical Fighter Wing, England, as Commander. General Pattillo had numerous assignments in Europe, followed by his posting in August 1968 to the 3rd Tactical Fighter Wing at Bien Hoa Air Base as Vice Commander, and later as Commander of the 3rd Tactical Fighter Wing at Tuy Hoa Air Base. He flew 236 combat missions in Vietnam flying F-100s, and was awarded the Silver Star, Distinguished Flying Cross, Legion of Merit and Air Medal with 11 oak leaf clusters. In September 1972 Pattillo was promoted to Major General and assigned to U.S. Air Force Headquarters as Director of Operations, later posted to NATO as the senior U.S. Representative. Pattillo retired in September 1980 after 30 years of active service. His military decorations and awards include the Distinguished Service Medal (3 oak clusters), Silver Star, Legion of Merit (2 clusters), Distinguished Flying Cross (one cluster), Air Medal (13 clusters), Air Force Commendation Medal (one cluster), Army Commendation Medal, Prisoner of War Medal, Croix de Guerre with Palm, and the 1st Class Republic of Vietnam Honor Medal. He is a Command Pilot with over 5500 flying hours.
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Condition: The CWU-36/P jacket and blue coverall flying suit with two star general rank are excellent, the shirt is good with some stains, the light and heavy orange suits are very good with the left shoulder chevron on the light weight suit loose, the light green coverall is very good with the name tag absent of about half the stitching and the shoulder epaulets have been removed, the remaining are good plus and the collar is very good with some yellowing.