sr1286.html

06 LC 37 0167

Senate Resolution 1286

By: Senator Tolleson of the 20th

A RESOLUTION

Recognizing and commending Lt. General Cuthbert A. (Bill) Pattillo; Major General Charles C. (Buck) Pattillo, Major General Joel B. (Bill) Paris III, General John F. (Big John) Collins; and for other purposes.

WHEREAS, in 1946, these four generals founded the first State of Georgia Air National Guard Fighter Aircraft Wing, the 54th Fighter Wing; and

WHEREAS, Big John Collins, a National Guard Captain in 1946, was pilot of an A-26 Douglas Aircraft Company low altitude two engine attack bomber, and Bill and Buck Pattillo, identical twin brothers, were 1st lieutenants with Bill Paris; and

WHEREAS, Bill Pattillo flew close formation on the left wing of the A-26 bomber, Buck flew close formation on the right wing, and Captain Paris flew tight formation behind and under the A-26; all three flew Republic Aircraft Corporation P-47 Thunderbolt fighter aircraft completing a tight diamond formation; and

WHEREAS, Brig. General George Finch, the State of Georgia Deputy Adjutant General for the Georgia Air National Guard, ordered these four pilots to fly air shows around the state to boost enlistment in the National Guard with great success; and

WHEREAS, this success came to the attention of the National Guard Bureau in Washington and finding this team to be extraordinary, credited these four pilots as the founders of the Air Force Thunderbirds Precision Flying Team, not unlike the U.S. Navy's Blue Angels; and

WHEREAS, Bill Paris was a leading fighter pilot ace in World War II credited with destroying nine Japanese aircraft in the Southwest Pacific arena; and

WHEREAS, Bill Pattillo destroyed a Japanese rocket powered fighter, only one of three Me. 262 fighters destroyed in World War II, plus five other Japanese aircraft; and
WHEREAS, Buck Patillo is credited with destroying five Japanese aircraft; and

WHEREAS, Big John Collins, as pilot of a B-25D is credited with the downing of six enemy fighters on one mission plus one Japanese warship as it was exiting Simpson Harbor resulting in the destruction of Admiral Yamamoto's plans to capture Port Moresby, New Guinea; and

WHEREAS, Big John Collins led an attack on Tobera Airfield, destroying numerous Japanese aircraft and the Bitipaka radio station used to order all Japanese air, sea, and land operations in the Southwest Pacific area, which forced the Japanese to begin retreating north to their bases in the Philippine Islands; and

WHEREAS, Bill and Buck Patillo, Bill Paris and Big John Collins collectively received four Silver Stars, nine Distinguished Flying Crosses, nine Legions of Merit, 36 Air Medals, nine Presidential Unit Citations, four Government of the Phillippines medals, two Croix-de-Guerres with Palm, a U.S. SWPA medal with nine major campaign battle stars, and 121 various noncombat service medals; and

WHEREAS, Bill and Buck Pattillo live in Valrico, Florida and are originally from Decatur, Georgia; Bill Paris lives in Alpharetta, Georgia and was born and raised in Georgia; and Big John Collins was born in Oklahoma, grew up in Bradenton, Florida and has lived in Georgia since 1939; and

WHEREAS, some 60 years after the conclusion of World War II, all Americans are encouraged to renew and rededicate themselves to honor the noble sacrifices, valorous deeds, and enduring accomplishments of the military veterans of what has aptly been called the Greatest Generation.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that the members of this body join together to express their deepest appreciation to Lt. General Cuthbert A. (Bill) Pattillo, Major General Charles C. (Buck) Pattillo, Major General Joel B. (Bill) Paris, and Brig. General John F. (Big John) Collins.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate is authorized and directed to transmit an appropriate copy of this resolution to Lt. General Cuthbert A. (Bill) Pattillo, Major General Charles C. (Buck) Pattillo, Major General Joel B. (Bill) Paris, and Brig. General John F. (Big John) Collins.