Major Werner Christie 234Sqdn

[SteveB]

I know that in 2005 there was a thread here about the markings of Christie’s a/c especially when he was a Lt/Col Wing Leader.

On 21 December 1944 Major Christie was posted as CO of 234Sqdn at Bentwaters and he served in that role for a short time until 10 February 1945. There is a photo in the 234Sqdn archive showing Christie standing by the rear fuselage of a Mustang III coded AZ*Z the serial is not in shot. Logbook entries for other 234Sqdn pilots at this time indicate that AZ*Z was FB344 and the ORB confirms that Christie flew this a/c most frequently.

Does anybody know anything more about the markings of this a/c were they standard RAF? Did Christie use the S/Ldrs pennant on the fuselage? Is there any evidence that Christie used the Norwegian national colours on his a/c spinner?

Thanks for any help

Steve

[Stein Meum]

According to Christie's Log Book,FB344 was AZ-Z.Many RAF Sqns used letters X-Y-Z for "A"-,"B"-Flight leaders and Sqn Ldr respectively,hence Werner's frequent flights in this machine.
He also flew FB192-H,FZ124-N and KH483-J.He also flew several non-operational flights in AZ-F.These were not entered in the ORB therefore no serial number for this one.Anyone out there with a likely serial number?

When I interviewed Werner some years ago,he mentioned that he always used a red spinner on his Mustangs.He never used the Norwegian colours on his spinner when flying with an ordinary RAF Sqn,i.e. not one of the "Norwegian" ones.He used the Wing Leader's pennant when commanding the 2 Mustang Wings,so I would find it natural that he would have used the Sqn Leaders pennant at 234 Sqn.One photo of a 234 Sqn Mustang shows the A/C letter duplicated on top of the tailfin.Werner could not remember whether any of his planes featured the same.

Stein

[SteveB]

Stein

Thanks very much for sharing your research.

I have AZ*F as FZ169.

As you will know Christie was followed as CO 234Sqdn by S/Ldr J E 'JAS' Storrar and he took over KH483/AZ*J as his personal a/c. When Storrar was CO of 65Sqdn he flew a Spitfire IX coded YT*JAS (with the 'A' and the 'S' about half the size of the 'J') it would be very interesting to find out whether he had something similar on his Mustang!

Thanks again
Steve

[Stein Meum]

Thanks for the serial!
I just realized he also flew AZ-O on a nightflight."Nice A/C for night flying" was his entry in the logbook.Have you got a likely candidate for this one,too?

JAS also followed Christie as Wingco Flying of the Hunsdon Wing and his Mustang there was very colourful,as well,contrary to Christie who had little interest in special schemes and markings on his A/C.Am pretty sure these were "Jas" both of them.

Stein

[SteveB]

I don't have any record of AZ*O. I have a number of tie ins for Mustang AZ*Q during the Christie period and this a/c was FZ160. I don't think it is very common for sqdns to use both 'Q' and 'O' as code letters at the same time. The other possibility at this time is AZ*D which was FX933.

Steve

[Tom Semenza]

Stein,

Christie claimed an Ar 96 on 9 February 1945 while leading 234 Sqn. Can you tell me which Mustang III he was flying for this claim?

Thanks,
Tom

[Frank Olynyk]

Tom,

Mustang III FB344

Frank.

[Tom Semenza]

Many thanks, Frank.

Tom