Pat Chilton


Patrick Charles Stuart Chilton was born 15th February 1921 and educated at Blundell's School.  He joined the Navy in 1938 and was commissioned in January 1939.
He undertook his ab initio flying training at 20 ERFTS, Gravesend.

Chilton flew these Tiger Moths at Gravesend between 26th June and 18th August 1939
N-5483, N-5485, N-5488. N-5489, N-5491 (first solo), N-5493, N-6447, N-6448, N-6449, N-6646, N-6647, N-6835, N-6935

He was posted to 804 Squadron at Hatston on 1st July 1940, to fly Gladiators on dockyard defence.  On 19th October 1940 he was posted to 771 Squadron.

Later Chilton served with 805 Squadron in the Western Desert, with 881 Squadron on the carrier HMS Illustrious.

He then commanded 1849 Sqn. from August 1944 to December 1944 and 1843 Sqn. on the escort carrier HMS Arbiter in the Far East from February 1945 to the end of the war.

 In late 1945 Chilton commanded the School of Naval Air Warfare and 748 Squadron at St. Merryn.  He became senior naval test pilot in the UK and spent two years on test duties with the US Navy.

He commanded 806 Squadron, became CFI at the Fighter School at Lossiemouth, commanded the Flying Wing at Bedford and was Commandant of the Empire Test Pilots School
at Boscombe Down from 1968 until he retired on 5th April 1971 as a Captain.

He was awarded the AFC (gazetted 1st January 1959).

Chilton died died 19th July 1975 in Westminster.

Pat Chilton.

Pat Chilton's first car at Gravesend - an Austin 7 Chummy.

A diagram of the Tiger Moth fuel system drawn by Pat Chilton as part of his training at Gravesend.

The Aircraft Flown page from Pat Chilton's logbook - 153 types of aircraft, helicopters and hovercraft, starting with the Tiger Moth.

Chilton's last flight was at Mach 2 in the Empire Test Pilots School Lightning where he was C/O.


Return to the Pilots page


Click here to return to the top of the page