The Airmen's Stories - F/O G P Christie

George Patterson Christie was born on 1st October 1917 at Westmount, Quebec, Canada, the son of Clarence Victor Christie (1882-1961) and Edith Madeline Christie (nee Mowatt 1886-1983).

His father was head of McGill University Electrical Engineering Department.

GP Christie was educated at Westmount High School and went on to McGill University. On leaving he was employed by the Sun Life Assurance Company.

He joined the RAF on a short service commission in June 1937. He was posted to 2 FTS Brize Norton on 18th September and joined 145 Squadron at Tangmere on 7th May 1938.

In May 1940 Christie went to 212 Squadron at the Photographic Development Unit, flying unarmed high-altitude Spitfires. On 13th June, although unarmed, he forced a Fiat BR20 down into the Mediterranean whilst on a photographic sortie over southern France.

Christie was awarded the DFC (gazetted 21st August 1940).

After 212 Squadron was disbanded in mid-June 1940, Christie joined 242 Squadron at Coltishall on 21st July. He got a probable He111 on 1st August and shot down a Me110 on the 30th.

Posted to 66 Squadron on 3rd September as a Flight Commander, Christie destroyed a Me109 on the 4th and probably another. His Spitfire, X4502, was damaged in the combat and he made a forced-landing near Canterbury, slightly wounded. Next day he was shot down by Me109s, wounded, and was admitted to the Royal Naval Hospital at Gillingham.

On 14th November 1940 he claimed a Ju87 destroyed, another probably destroyed and a Me109 damaged. On the 26th and 27th he shot down Me109s and on 20th December he flew one of two Spitfires in an attack on the airfield at Le Touquet, one of the RAF's first offensive actions.

The Me109 he engaged on 27th November was Werknummer 4101 'Black 12' of 2./JG51, based at Wissant. The pilot, Lt. Wolfgang Teumer, made a wheels-up landing at RAF Manston. The aircraft is now displayed at the RAF Museum (below).

On the 29th Christie damaged a Do17. He was awarded a Bar to the DFC (gazetted 14th January 1941), being then credited with at least seven enemy aircraft destroyed.

In early 1941 Christie returned to Canada and in March he joined Ferry Command. He was killed near Point Clare, Quebec on 6th July 1942 in a flying accident in a Hudson, as a Squadron Leader. Hudson III FH395 of the Ferry Command Training Flight crashed into Lac St Louis, Quebec, cause unknown, during a training flight.

Also lost were:

W/Cdr. BG Carr-Harris
LAC CS Llewellyn

Christie is buried in Pointe Claire (Lakeview) Memorial Gardens, Montreal, Canada.

Above image courtesy of Alex Gallagher via Fred Carpenter RCAF (Retired).

On 28th June 1943 a stained glass window was dedicated in his memory at the Erskine and American United Church in Montreal (below).