Christopher Riddle

Christopher John Henry Riddle
Birth name Christopher John Henry Riddle
Nickname(s) Jack
Born (1914-04-04)4 April 1914
Buckinghamshire
Died 8 August 2009(2009-08-08) (aged 95)
Chichester
Allegiance  United Kingdom
Service/branch  Royal Air Force
Years of service 1938–1946
Rank Squadron Leader
Unit

No. 601 Squadron RAF

No. 10 Group RAF
Battles/wars

World War II

Other work Timber, Textiles

Squadron Leader Christopher John Henry "Jack" Riddle RAF (1914–2009) was a World War II Royal Air Force fighter pilot during the Battle of Britain.

Early life

Christopher Riddle, known as Jack, was born in Buckinghamshire on 4 April 1914 and was educated at Harrow School from 1928–1931.[1] He was a member of White's club in London.

Air Force Career

Riddle joined No. 601 Squadron RAF, part of the Auxiliary Air Force in early 1938 and was called to full-time service in October 1939.

Riddle flew with 601 Sqn throughout the Battle of Britain, along with his older brother Hugh. On 27 May 1940, over Dunkirk, Riddle probably destroyed a Me110.[2] He shared a Me110 on 11 July and a Do17 on 4 September.[3] He was promoted to Flight Lieutenant on 4 October 1940.[4]

In January 1941 Riddle was posted to No. 10 Group RAF (RAF Box) as a Sector Controller.[5] He was mentioned in dispatches in March 1941.[6] He was promoted to Squadron Leader on 1 December 1941.[7] Later in the war he was in the Far East at HQ Air South East Asia Command, in Ceylon and later Singapore. Riddle was released from the RAF in 1946 as a Squadron Leader.

Later life

Riddle was later with an international trading group and his main work was buying Baltic timber for the Australian market. Riddle later had his own textile company.[8] He was involved with the Billy Fiske Memorial Window at Boxgrove Priory.[9][10]

Jack Riddle died on 8 August 2009, aged 95 in Chichester.[11]

References

  1. ↑ http://www.bbm.org.uk/RiddleCJ.htm
  2. ↑ http://www.the-battle-of-britain.co.uk/pilots/RA-pilots.html
  3. ↑ http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Battle-Britain-PILOT-Signed-FORM-Xmas-Card-/390210961893?pt=UK_Collectables_Militaria_LE&hash=item5ada62c1e5
  4. ↑ http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/35028/pages/7304
  5. ↑ http://thefew.info/Ronnie/Wing%20Commander%20Hector%20MacLean.htm
  6. ↑ http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/35028/pages/7304
  7. ↑ http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/35383/supplements/7121
  8. ↑ http://www.military-art.com/mall/profiles.php?SigID=56
  9. ↑ http://www.bbm.org.uk/Fiskewindow.htm
  10. ↑ http://www.601squadron.com/Billy_Fiske_Window.php
  11. ↑ http://announcements.thetimes.co.uk/obituaries/timesonline-uk/obituary-preview.aspx?n=christopher-john-henry-riddle&pid=131291296&referrer=2282

External links

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