George Palliser facts for kids

George Charles Calder "Tich" Palliser, DFC, AE (born January 11, 1919 – died September 24, 2011) was a brave pilot in the Royal Air Force during the Second World War. He was known as a "flying ace" because he shot down many enemy planes. Palliser fought in important battles like the Battle of Britain and the Battle of Malta. He was one of the last surviving members of "The Few", a special group of pilots who defended Britain during the Battle of Britain.

Early Life and Education

George Palliser was born in West Hartlepool, England, on January 11, 1919. He went to Brougham School and later attended a Technical School.

Joining the Royal Air Force

Palliser joined the Royal Air Force (RAF) in 1939, just before the Second World War began. He trained to become a pilot. When the war started, he became a full-time sergeant pilot.

Fighting in the Battle of Britain

In July 1940, Palliser learned to fly Hurricanes, which were powerful fighter planes. On August 3, 1940, he joined No. 17 Squadron RAF and began flying in the Battle of Britain. This was a huge air battle where the RAF defended Britain from German attacks. Palliser later moved to other squadrons, including No. 43 Squadron RAF and No. 249 Squadron RAF. During the Battle of Britain, he showed great skill by shooting down eight enemy aircraft.

Defending Malta

In April 1941, Palliser became an officer. Soon after, his squadron sailed on a ship called HMS Furious to Gibraltar. From there, they transferred to HMS Ark Royal and flew to Ta' Qali on May 21, 1941. Their mission was to help defend the island of Malta during the Siege of Malta. This was another fierce battle where enemy planes constantly attacked the island. Palliser achieved five more victories during this time.

In January 1942, he became a flight commander in No. 605 Squadron RAF. For his bravery and success, Palliser was given the Distinguished Flying Cross award on January 30, 1942. He left Malta on February 26, 1942, after being one of the pilots who served there the longest. He once said about his time flying:

But I wasn't there for medals. It was like a job. Fly, fly, shoot one down... start again the next day. I only said my prayers sometimes when I took off... when it was a tight battle... But that parachute on my back was like an angel by my side.

Life as an Instructor

After his combat missions, Palliser became an instructor. He taught new pilots at various air schools in South Africa starting in March 1942. He helped train many future pilots for the war effort. In May 1944, he returned to Great Britain. He continued to work as an instructor at different RAF training schools until October 1946. He then moved to Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) to teach at another flying school.

In October 1947, George Palliser retired from the RAF with the rank of flight lieutenant.

Life After the War

After leaving the RAF, George Palliser moved to South Africa with his family. He started a new career as an engineer, working on building ships and planes. His engineering career took him and his family to many different countries, including the United States and Asia. Eventually, he settled in Australia.

In his later years, Palliser lived with his daughter in Victoria, Australia. He used his fame as a Battle of Britain veteran to help raise money for a new education center at the Battle of Britain Memorial, Capel-le-Ferne. He was also interested in modern technology and even had his own facebook account.

George Charles Calder Palliser passed away on September 24, 2011, in Black Rock, Victoria, Australia.