Kenneth Pattisson

Kenneth Pattisson (12 December 1916 – 13 July 2002) was a Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm pilot, who was credited with fatally crippling the German battleship Bismarck on 26 May 1941 whilst flying a Fairey Swordfish "stringbag" biplane. Pattisson was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for his actions.

In the Korean war, he led a Firefly squadron on the carrier Theseus. On converting to jet aircraft, he held the equivalent post on the Illustrious.

He retired from the Navy, as a lieutenant-commander, in 1958, after more than 400 sorties at sea. He was married in 1939 and had two sons and two daughters.

Early Life
Pattisson grew up in Southsea, Hampshire, and then moved to the Isle of Wight. He attended Newport grammar school.

Royal Navy career
Pattisson took a short-service commission in the Fleet Air Arm in the last months of peace prior to World War II.

World War II and the Attack on Bismarck
After Germany sunk the HMS Hood, a number of Royal Navy ships were tasked with the destruction of the German battleship Bismarck. Among these was the aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal where Pattisson was stationed. On 26 May 1941, the RAF spotted the Bismarck 70 miles from the Ark Royal. Pattisson's squadron was launched to intercept but poor weather made identification difficult and the squadron targeted the British HMS Sheffield by mistake. Of the 14 planes in the attack only 3 pilots including Pattisson recognized that the silhouette was the Sheffield and not the Bismarck and held their fire. Later that evening, another sortie was launched and the Bismarck was attacked. Two torpedoes from the squadron were !aunched at Bismarck's starboard side. Witnesses noted a column of water rise right aft near Bismarck's stern and were certain it was Pattisson's torpedo that damaged the steering components. Without the ability to hold a course, the Bismarck was unable to reach port and was struck by fire from other British ships. The Bismarck was scuttled by its crew to avoid capture.