Jerry Pentland facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jerry Pentland
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Squadron Leader Pentland in New Guinea, c. 1943
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| Birth name | Alexander Augustus Norman Dudley Pentland |
| Nickname(s) | Jerry |
| Born | 5 August 1894 Maitland, New South Wales |
| Died | 3 November 1983 (aged 89) Collaroy, New South Wales |
| Allegiance | Australia |
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| Years of service |
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| Rank | Squadron leader |
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| Commands held | No. 1 Rescue and Communication Flight (1942–1943) |
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Alexander Augustus Norman Dudley "Jerry" Pentland (5 August 1894 – 3 November 1983) was an Australian fighter pilot during World War I. He was born in Maitland, Australia. He first joined the Australian Army in 1915. He fought at Gallipoli. The next year, he joined the Royal Flying Corps, which was a British air force.
Pentland became one of the top Australian fighter pilots of World War I. He shot down twenty-three enemy aircraft. This made him the fifth highest-scoring Australian ace. He received the Military Cross in 1918 for bravely attacking an enemy airfield. He also earned the Distinguished Flying Cross for fighting four enemy planes by himself.
After World War I, Pentland served in the new Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) and later the Royal Air Force. He then became a businessman and a pilot. He flew planes around the goldfields of New Guinea. He also designed aircraft and taught people to fly. When World War II began, he rejoined the RAAF. He became a squadron leader and led rescue and communication teams in the South West Pacific. He was one of the oldest pilots flying missions during the war. He rescued many airmen, soldiers, and civilians. For his bravery, he received the Air Force Cross. After the war, he became a trader and coffee farmer in New Guinea. He retired in 1959 and passed away in 1983 at age eighty-nine.
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Early Life and Education
Alexander Augustus Norman Dudley Pentland was born in Maitland, New South Wales, on 5 August 1894. His father was Irish, and his mother was Scottish. He went to The King's School in Sydney and Brighton Grammar in Melbourne. He later studied dairy farming at Hawkesbury Agricultural College. He also worked as a jackaroo, which is a trainee on a sheep or cattle farm. His father was a doctor who served in the Australian Army during World War I.
World War I Service
Pentland joined the Australian Army on 5 March 1915. He was a private in the 12th Light Horse Regiment. He sailed to Egypt in June. In August, his unit went to Gallipoli, where he fought as a machine gunner. He got sick with typhoid fever and was sent to England to recover.
After getting better, he wanted to leave the trenches. He joined the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) on 21 February 1916. He became a temporary second lieutenant. His first solo flight was a bit bumpy. He crashed after landing, but he was not hurt. He tried again and landed safely. It was then that he got the nickname "Jerry."
After his pilot training, he went to France in June. He flew B.E.2s with No. 16 Squadron. These planes were slow and easy targets for enemy aircraft. But Pentland and his observer still managed to shoot down a German Eindecker on 9 June. He then joined No. 29 Squadron and started flying DH.2 "pusher" fighters. These planes had their propeller at the back. He broke his leg playing rugby and had to stop flying for a while.
After recovering, he became a flying instructor until June 1917. Then he joined No. 19 Squadron, flying SPAD S.VII planes. He loved the SPAD because it was strong and easy to move.
On 20 July 1917, Pentland got his first victory in the SPAD. He helped destroy an Albatros two-seater plane. Four days later, he attacked an enemy truck convoy. He then fought ten Albatros fighters by himself. His plane was badly damaged, but he was not hurt. He shot down another Albatros on 20 August.
Pentland led a daring raid on Marcke airfield on 26 August. This was where Baron von Richthofen's famous Jasta 11 squadron was based. On the way, he helped shoot down a DFW C.V plane. They surprised the airfield and shot at the enemy planes on the ground. On the way back, he attacked an enemy train. He then fought two more German planes. His bravery in this raid earned him the Military Cross. The award said he showed "conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty" for flying low and attacking enemy machines and a train.
Pentland had one more victory in August 1917 and four more in September. His total was ten victories. On 26 September, his SPAD was hit by an artillery shell, and he crashed. He was injured. After he recovered, he taught flying again. Then he joined No. 87 Squadron, flying Sopwith Dolphin planes. He was promoted to captain.
He returned to France in April 1918. The Royal Flying Corps had become the new Royal Air Force (RAF). Pentland achieved thirteen more victories with No. 87 Squadron. His aggressive flying style earned him the nickname "Wild Australian." He often flew alone, looking for dogfights with enemy planes. On 18 June, he was on patrol alone. He attacked four Rumpler reconnaissance planes, forcing three of them down. This action earned him the Distinguished Flying Cross. The award praised his bravery for attacking four enemy planes by himself.
On 25 August, Pentland destroyed two German planes. But then he was shot down and wounded in the foot. These were his last victories. He had a total of twenty-three victories. This included eleven planes destroyed and twelve forced down out of control. He was the fifth highest-scoring Australian ace of World War I.
Between the World Wars
After World War I, Pentland left the RAF and returned to Australia. He gave joyrides in an Avro 504K plane to earn money. In August 1921, he joined the new Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). He was a flight lieutenant and was in charge of the RAAF's S.E.5 fighter planes. These planes were a gift from Great Britain.
In 1923, Pentland joined the RAF again as a flying officer. He went to Britain with his new wife, Madge. They married on 5 March. Their daughter, Carleen, was born the next year. Pentland became an instructor at the Central Flying School. He was promoted to flight lieutenant before leaving the RAF on 20 July 1926. He then returned to Australia.
In 1927, Pentland started a company called Mandated Territory Airways. He flew supplies to and from the goldfields in New Guinea. He bought a DH.60 Moth biplane. The business did well, and they bought another Moth plane. But by the end of the year, Pentland got malaria and had to leave the company. He sold one plane and returned to Australia.
After recovering, he started new businesses. These included making aircraft, running a flying school, and doing charter flights. In 1929, he helped form the General Aircraft Company. They made an Australian-designed plane called the Genairco. Eight of these planes were sold. He also started Pentland's Flying School in Sydney. He flew charter flights for The Sun newspaper. In September, he raced his Moth plane in the East-West Air Race from Sydney to Perth.
His businesses eventually closed due to a lack of customers. In 1930, Pentland became a pilot for Australian National Airways (ANA). This airline was started by famous pilots Charles Kingsford Smith and Charles Ulm. By 1932, ANA was also in trouble. Pentland left and became a dairy farmer in Singleton. But a drought forced him to sell his farm. He went back to being a pilot, teaching at aero clubs. By late 1937, he was flying transport planes in New Guinea again. He returned to Australia when World War II began in September 1939.
World War II Service
Pentland rejoined the RAAF on 17 June 1940. He took a course to become a flying instructor. He then taught at flying schools in eastern Australia. He was promoted to flight lieutenant in October 1941. In June 1942, he joined No. 1 Communication Flight. This unit worked with the army and navy. They flew missions in Victoria, the Northern Territory, and New Guinea.
In November 1942, Pentland was promoted to squadron leader. He was sent to Port Moresby, New Guinea. He became the commanding officer of No. 1 Rescue and Communication Squadron. This unit was known as "Pentland's Flying Circus." It was a very unusual unit with many different types of light aircraft. Pentland was likely the oldest pilot flying missions in the RAAF at the time.
His main job was to rescue American airmen who had crashed. He also evacuated civilians and soldiers. He helped explore and map areas around Daru and Milne Bay. He also helped set up new bases and emergency airfields in places like Bena Bena and Abau.
In June 1943, Pentland returned to Australia. He received radar training. He helped set up the RAAF's early warning radar system in northern Australia. In March 1944, he went back to New Guinea. He commanded No. 8 Communication Unit on Goodenough Island. This unit flew many types of planes, including Tiger Moths and Catalinas. They flew reconnaissance and bombing missions. They also did rescue and survey flights.
In July 1945, Pentland was posted to Mascot. He commanded No. 3 Communication Unit until September. His brave actions in New Guinea earned him the Air Force Cross. The award stated that he showed "outstanding courage, initiative and skill." His knowledge of New Guinea was very helpful to the RAAF and the US Army Air Forces.
Later Life and Retirement
Pentland left the RAAF on 2 November 1945, after the war ended. He bought extra military equipment in New Guinea. He started a trading business in Finschhafen. He later expanded his business to Lae and Wau. In 1948, he became a coffee planter in Goroka. He also helped find workers from the highlands for coastal industries.
He did very well as a coffee planter. He helped develop the Goroka region by building its first water supply. He also encouraged other businesses to start there. Because he was so busy in New Guinea, he did not receive his Air Force Cross until 1950. In 1959, he sold his businesses in Goroka. He retired with his wife, Madge, to their home in Bayview, New South Wales.
Madge Pentland passed away in 1982. Jerry Pentland died eighteen months later, on 3 November 1983. He was at the War Veterans Home in Collaroy. He was eighty-nine years old. He was survived by his daughter, Carleen. He was cremated on 7 November.
Images for kids
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Captain Pentland in his Royal Flying Corps uniform, around 1918.
