George Palliser

Education

Born in West Hartlepool, Palliser was educated at Brougham School and later attended a Technical School.

Career

Palliser flew during the Battle of Britain and, at the time of his death in 2011, was one of the last survivors of "The Few". Palliser joined the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve in 1939 as an airman under training as a pilot. He was called up to full-time service, at the rank of sergeant pilot at the outbreak of war, and was posted to Number.

3 ITW Hasting, moved to Number.

11 EFTS Perth on 5 December 1939 and went to Number. 6 Flying Training School at Royal Air Force Little Rissington in April 1940.

Pallister converted to Hurricanes at Number. 6 Operational Training Unit at Royal Air Force Sutton Bridge in July 1940 and joined Number.

17 Squadron Royal Air Force at Royal Air Force Debden on 3 August 1940 during the Battle of Britain.

He moved to Number. 43 Squadron Royal Air Force at Royal Air Force Tangmere on 18 August 1940 and then Number. 249 Squadron Royal Air Force at Royal Air Force North Weald on 14 September 1940.

During the Battle of Britain, Palliser claimed eight victories.

Pallister was commissioned in April 1941 and embarked with Number. 249 Squadron on HMS Furious on 10 May and sailed for Gibraltar, and on arrival the squadron transferred to HMS Ark Royal. The squadron flew to Ta" Qali on 21 May 1941 to take part in the Siege of Malta.

During that battle, he claimed a further five victories.

In January 1942 he was posted to Number. 605 Squadron Royal Air Force as flight commander.

He left Malta on 26 February 1942 as one of the island"s longest serving pilots. He was quoted as saying:

Palliser arrived at Number.

25 Air School at Standerton, South Africa on 28 March 1942 to be an instructor at the school.

Palliser was posted to Number. 62 CFS, Bloemfontein on 17 July, to 2 EFTS Randfontein on 19 October and then to 4 EFTS Benoni on 2 September 1943. He was admitted to Baragwanath Military Hospital in Johannesburg on 21 January 1944 and remained there until leaving for Great Britain on 24 May 1944.

Palliser instructed at Number.

15 EFTS at Royal Air Force Kingstown from September 1944. He moved to Number. 10 FTS at Royal Air Force Woodley on 19 September 1945, where he instructed until 16 March 1946.

Palliser was an instructor at the CFS at Royal Air Force South Cerney until October 1946, when he was posted as an instructor to Number. 23 Flying School at Heany, Southern Rhodesia.

In October 1947, Palliser retired from the Royal Air Force, at the rank of flight lieutenant.

Victories

Following his career in the Royal Air Force, Palliser moved to South Africa with his family. He settled and recommenced his career as an engineer, including ship and plane building. An illustrious career, including senior positions in the mining industry later took him and his family to the United States, Asia, and finally Australia.

He used his profile as a Battle of Britain veteran to raise funds for the new education centre at the Battle of Britain Memorial, Capel-le-Ferne.

He was a keen follower of modern technology – even having his own facebook accountant He died on 24 September 2011 in Black Rock, Victoria, Australia.

Achievements

• Palliser was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, which was gazetted on 30 January 1942.