Robert Patton
Recruit
- 4
- Nov 17, 2016
Growing up I saw an article in a WWII magazine about my grandfather. He was a pby pilot who sank a German sub (flying out of Reykjavik. His base commander didnt believe he sun the U boat and ststed that the next time he wanted proof in hand. My grandfather and his crew sank another U boat, made contact with a british tin can who were able to round up various articles in the debris. My grandfather took possession of the german U boat commander underwear and flew them on the flagpole the next morning. Angering the base commander of course. Eventually a magazine heard of the feat and come out to the base and did a story on him and his crew. I believe it may have been stars ans stripes but im not sure. I remember the article but was 5 ish and am now 45. The following is a story written by a fellow ham radio operator from a club he was in.
Grant Patton W5GPJ 1915 - 2012 (Silent Key)
Grant Patton was known locally and fondly as "the grandfather of radio." Pat began his radio career at the age of 12 using a spark rig on a United Fruit boat running from Columbia to New Orleans in 1927. Since then, he has done things that the average person would never dream of doing. He has traveled the world, on personal business, as well as professionally as an industrial electronics technician, and as part of his service in the US Naval Air Force. He worked for many years with his father in Central and South America drilling water wells, then worked the oil fields of Oklahoma. He was a pilot, a radio technician, and a mechanic. During wartime, he was in Iceland, Greenland, Africa, Europe, and many other parts of the world.
We acknowledge and are thankful for his service during World War II. Pat was in the Naval Reserve and volunteered for service in the US Naval Air Force from 1940 - 1945. During his service he flew PBYs out of Iceland as part of an anti-submarine bomber squad patrolling the North Atlantic. His squadron was part of the D-Day attack force - flying from their base in Iceland to England and from there flying cover for the landing of our forces in the North African campaign and General Patton's landing at Casablanca, French Morocco.
After the war he opened a radio repair shop in Berwick (LA) and had a thriving commercial business. Pat collected radio equipment and parts over his lifetime and was well-known as the man who could piece together obsolete parts and create a working radio. He was an amateur "ham" radio operator for 80 years! He will be missed by all who knew him, and especially by his fellow ham radio operators.
Submitted by
BEARS - Bayouland Emergency Amateur Radio Service
W5BMC - Morgan City, LA
Truly any info would be appreciated. Have contacted stars and striped and they wont do anything regarding looking it up. This means alot to me. I again would appreciate any help.
thanks in advance
Robert Patton
Grant Patton W5GPJ 1915 - 2012 (Silent Key)
Grant Patton was known locally and fondly as "the grandfather of radio." Pat began his radio career at the age of 12 using a spark rig on a United Fruit boat running from Columbia to New Orleans in 1927. Since then, he has done things that the average person would never dream of doing. He has traveled the world, on personal business, as well as professionally as an industrial electronics technician, and as part of his service in the US Naval Air Force. He worked for many years with his father in Central and South America drilling water wells, then worked the oil fields of Oklahoma. He was a pilot, a radio technician, and a mechanic. During wartime, he was in Iceland, Greenland, Africa, Europe, and many other parts of the world.
We acknowledge and are thankful for his service during World War II. Pat was in the Naval Reserve and volunteered for service in the US Naval Air Force from 1940 - 1945. During his service he flew PBYs out of Iceland as part of an anti-submarine bomber squad patrolling the North Atlantic. His squadron was part of the D-Day attack force - flying from their base in Iceland to England and from there flying cover for the landing of our forces in the North African campaign and General Patton's landing at Casablanca, French Morocco.
After the war he opened a radio repair shop in Berwick (LA) and had a thriving commercial business. Pat collected radio equipment and parts over his lifetime and was well-known as the man who could piece together obsolete parts and create a working radio. He was an amateur "ham" radio operator for 80 years! He will be missed by all who knew him, and especially by his fellow ham radio operators.
Submitted by
BEARS - Bayouland Emergency Amateur Radio Service
W5BMC - Morgan City, LA
Truly any info would be appreciated. Have contacted stars and striped and they wont do anything regarding looking it up. This means alot to me. I again would appreciate any help.
thanks in advance
Robert Patton
Well done Mike.
