Christopher Riddle

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

Christopher John Henry Riddle
Birth nameChristopher John Henry Riddle
Nickname(s)Jack
Born(1914-04-04)4 April 1914
Buckinghamshire
Died8 August 2009(2009-08-08) (aged 95)
Chichester
Allegiance United Kingdom
Service/branch Royal Air Force
Years of service1938–1946
RankSquadron Leader
UnitNo. 601 Squadron RAF
No. 10 Group RAF
Battles/warsWorld War II
Other workTimber, Textiles

Early life

Christopher Riddle, known as Jack, was born in Buckinghamshire on 4 April 1914 and was educated at Harrow School from 1928 to 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 Bf 110.[2] He shared a Bf 110 on 11 July and a Do 17 on 4 September. He was promoted to Flight Lieutenant on 4 October 1940.[3]

In January 1941 Riddle was posted to No. 10 Group RAF (RAF Box) as a Sector Controller.[4] He was mentioned in dispatches in March 1941.[3] He was promoted to Squadron Leader on 1 December 1941.[5] 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.[6] He was involved with the Billy Fiske Memorial Window at Boxgrove Priory.[7][8]

Jack Riddle died on 8 August 2009, aged 95 in Chichester.[9]

References
  1. "Battle of Britain London Monument - F/Lt. C J H RIDDLE". Archived from the original on 7 March 2012. Retrieved 11 February 2011.
  2. "Ra-pilots". www.the-battle-of-britain.co.uk.
  3. "No. 35028". The London Gazette. 31 December 1940. p. 7304.
  4. http://thefew.info/Ronnie/Wing%20Commander%20Hector%20MacLean.htm
  5. "No. 35383". The London Gazette (Supplement). 16 December 1941. p. 7121.
  6. "Squadron Leader Christopher Riddle (deceased)". Military Print Company. Retrieved 20 December 2017.
  7. "Battle of Britain London Monument - Fiske Memorial Window". Archived from the original on 10 February 2009. Retrieved 2 February 2009.
  8. "Billy Fiske Window". Archived from the original on 7 July 2011. Retrieved 12 February 2011.
  9. "Christopher John Henry Riddle Obituary: View Christopher Riddle's Obituary by The Times". announcements.thetimes.co.uk. Archived from the original on 11 August 2011.
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