W/Cdr W.H.Christie's Mustang.

[smokie]

Hello All,
Browsing through a Relations Log Book (W/O G.Watkins 122 Sqn RAAF) & have noticed that on one Operation namely 31st March 1945 Escort to Hamburg he has recorded that he flew in Mustang "WHC" which presumably was Wg/Cdr's Werner Christies own Personal Aircraft?.

My Question is this: Was it usual to "Borrow" the Wing Leaders Mustang for an Op?
If so can anyone confirm that it was Mustang Mk IV KH790 as by this date I presume his Mk III was left back at Hunsdon? - Have searched 122 Sqn's ORB - Records & Summarys but it has no Record of him flying that day - Mystery?.

I have attached the Logbook Page (Image 1) & also another page where the End of the War in Europe was noted - Many Notable 122 Sqn Names here including Bob Casburns who was KIFA at Peterhead 12th May 1945.

Many thanks Keith.

[SteveB]

Hi Keith

I think we have corresponded before?

Firstly it was not that uncommon for junior pilots to fly the CO's a/c; perhaps a little less common for pilots to fly the WingCo's a/c.

Christie was posted from Andrews Field to Hunsdon on 6/3/45. At Hunsdon he did fly a MkIV KH790 which was originally on charge to 611Sqn and then transferred to the Station Flight. There is no indication in the record that KH790 was ever at Andrews Field.

I suggest that the 'WHC' your relative flew was a MkIII that Christie flew at Andrews Field although it is a surprise that the a/c still carried Christie's codes after 3 weeks or so. Christie was replaced at Andrews Field by W/C C P Rudland. I can't immediately establish a serial for a MkIII with 'WHC' codes.

Steve

[smokie]

Hello Steve,
Good to bump into you again

You are totally correct in KH790 as Christie had this whilst Wing leader at Hunsdon and was actually lost in this after an engine Fire on the 18th April 1945 becoming a POW for a short time.
The only MkIII listed as his before becoming Wing Leader at Andrewsfield was 234Sqn AZ*Z FB344 - He was recorded as becoming Wing leader there on the 10th February 1945 - I wonder if he took this one along with him or was this not a done thing?

Still as you say 3 Weeks is a long time to still have the WHC Codes unless maybe it was left as a "Hack/Spare" Aircraft - Who Knows yet another Mystery?.

Incidentally it seems that Wing Leaders Aircraft details etc on the Wings Individual Squadron ORB,s are not listed - Do you know if they are kept anywhere else other than their own Personal Log Book?

Many thanks - Keith.

[SteveB]

Hi Keith

It is certainly my experience that Wing ORBs do not include a Form 541 with details of operations. However when W/Cs flew on operations it is often the case that they are recorded in the ORB of one of the squadrons involved. On 31/3/45 the Wing was led by S/Ldr Jackson of 122 Sqn and not by Rudland.

Steve