Squadron Leader Pattinson
By 84th Entry members
Tony Mooney took this photo in Southill, Bedfordshire on Sunday 4 Jun 17. It gave rise to an exchange of correspondence on the 84th Entry Forum from which we quote below:
It turns out that this blue Bugatti EFA 781 is a replica built for himself by George Fearn. See a description of it here.
In a email on 13 Jun 17 Harvey Morton said:
“Squadron Leader Pattinson had no less than 2 Bugattis and a powerful motor bike. I think he might have been OC 'B' Squadron. He was also O I/C Sailing for the Apprentice Wing and on one of his visits to Cheddar Reservoir he gave me a lift back to Locking in his Type 35, very similar to the one in the photo (below), a rare experience. His other Bug was a saloon.”
In another email on the same day Harvey added:
The Bugatti in the photo (above) is very similar to the one owned by S/Ldr Pattinson. Same blue colour, it is Italian after all, and was a 2 seater, one driver and an engineer!! Outside hand brake and gear change so no opportunity for a bit of hanky panky excused as a fumbled gear change, and an exhaust sound to die for. The saloon was a bit more sedate, was it a 'Royale'? It was two tone in dark colours.
In an email also dated 13 Jun 17 Nobby Clarke said:
“Yes, it is as Harvey said. Two owned by Pattinson. A type 35 (which did not have the original engine) and the saloon which had an ugly backend, like a Ford 8. That did have the original engine. I know because he let me have a look at it.”
In another email on 13 Jun 17 Bryan Hobbs said there were two Bugattis. One was a single seater blue car which always seemed to come home towed by a Landrover; the other was a huge black saloon with a long shiny engine. As it passed at about 30 mph one could count the piston strokes!
Stan Folds chipped in with an email on 14 Jun 17:
“Harvey is right, I also had a lift from Axbridge in the saloon when slightly hypothermic after a capsize.”
We can’t find a ‘free to use’ image of a Bugatti Type 35 but here’s a link to a Wikipedia article all about this famous racing car:
