During the flashback scene where Patterson is killed, he calls himself 'Pat': "Ol Pat Patterson will show 'em how it's done." He then dives off and is killed by the enemy. In the scene before where He and Pappy are in the officers club, Pappy occasions to talk to Patterson and remember how it was back in China. He calls him 'Dave' Patterson, not Pat. "It's good to have an experienced pilot in here, good work, Dave."