Pardoe, George Patrick Lefroy, brother of Stephen Walter Lefroy Pardoe (qv); b. 25 June 1916; adm. May 1930 (R); left July 1934; Aeronautical Engineering Coll. Chelsea, AFRAeS 1937; Vickers (Aviation) Ltd and Follando Aircraft Co.; Fleet Air Arm 1941-4 (Lieut. (A) RNVR), served Fighter Command UK and FAA Salerno; killed on active service 25 Jan. 1944.
George Patrick Lefroy “Pat” Pardoe was born at Purley, Surrey on the 25th of June 1916 the youngest son of Stephen George Pardoe, a newspaper manager, and Mabel Gertrude (nee Lefroy) Pardoe of 36, Foxley Lane, Purley in Surrey. He was christened at St James’ Church, Riddlesdown on the 22nd of October 1916. He was educated at Westminster School where he was up Rigaud’s from May 1930 to July 1934. He went on to the Aeronautical Engineering College, Chelsea and qualified AFRAc.S in 1937. He joined the staff of Vickers (Aviation) Ltd as an aeronautical technician, and later joined the Follando Aircraft Company. He was awarded a Royal Aero Club Certificate (No. 14607) at Brooklands Flying Club on the 18th of November 1936 while flying a DH Moth aircraft. He was elected as an Associate Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society in October 1941.
He enlisted in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve in 1941 and was commissioned as a Sub Lieutenant (A) on the 30th of July 1942. He joined 879 Naval Air Squadron on the 22nd of March 1943. He served for a time with Fighter Command before joining the Fleet Air Arm. He saw action during the landings at Salerno on board the escort carrier HMS Attacker (D02).
On the 29th of January 1944 Pat Pardoe was flying Seafire Mk IIC LR761 and was leading a formation of other aircraft on a low flying photo reconnaissance exercise when his aircraft crashed into a hillside at Glenarm near Larne in County Antrim, at 11.15am killing him.
His mother received the following telegram: - “From Admiralty. Deeply regret to inform you that your son Sub Lieutenant (A) G. P. L. Pardoe RNVR has been killed in an aircraft accident.”
He was posthumously promoted to Lieutenant (A) on the 17th of March 1944.
He is buried at Larne New Cemetery Section 10, Block F, Grave 899.