Christopher Riddle
Encyclopedia
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
.
on 4 April 1914 and was educated at Harrow School
from 1928–1931. He was a member of White's
club in London
.
, 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. He shared a Me110 on 11 July and a Do17 on 4 September. He was promoted to Flight Lieutenant
on 4 October 1940.
In January 1941 Riddle was posted to No. 10 Group RAF
(RAF Box) as a Sector Controller. He was mentioned in dispatches
in March 1941. He was promoted to Squadron Leader
on 1 December 1941. 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
.
Memorial Window at Boxgrove Priory
.
Jack Riddle died on 8 August 2009, aged 95 in Chichester
.
Squadron Leader
Squadron Leader is a commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence. It is also sometimes used as the English translation of an equivalent rank in countries which have a non-English air force-specific rank structure. In these...
Christopher John Henry "Jack" Riddle RAF (1914–2009) was a World War II Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
fighter pilot during the Battle of Britain
Battle of Britain
The Battle of Britain is the name given to the World War II air campaign waged by the German Air Force against the United Kingdom during the summer and autumn of 1940...
.
Early life
Christopher Riddle, known as Jack, was born in BuckinghamshireBuckinghamshire
Buckinghamshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan home county in South East England. The county town is Aylesbury, the largest town in the ceremonial county is Milton Keynes and largest town in the non-metropolitan county is High Wycombe....
on 4 April 1914 and was educated at Harrow School
Harrow School
Harrow School, commonly known simply as "Harrow", is an English independent school for boys situated in the town of Harrow, in north-west London.. The school is of worldwide renown. There is some evidence that there has been a school on the site since 1243 but the Harrow School we know today was...
from 1928–1931. He was a member of White's
White's
White's is a London gentlemen's club, established at 4 Chesterfield Street in 1693 by Italian immigrant Francesco Bianco . Originally it was established to sell hot chocolate, a rare and expensive commodity at the time...
club in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
.
Air Force Career
Riddle joined No. 601 Squadron RAFNo. 601 Squadron RAF
No. 601 Squadron was a squadron of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force, based in London. The squadron battle honours most notably include the Battle of Britain and the first Americans to fly in World War II were members of this squadron.-History:...
, 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
Battle of Britain
The Battle of Britain is the name given to the World War II air campaign waged by the German Air Force against the United Kingdom during the summer and autumn of 1940...
, along with his older brother Hugh
Hugh Riddle
Squadron Leader Hugh Joseph "Huseph" Riddle RAF was a World War II Royal Air Force fighter pilot during the Battle of Britain.-Early life:Hugh Joseph Riddle, known as "Huseph", was born in London on 24 May 1912 and was educated at Harrow School....
. On 27 May 1940, over Dunkirk, Riddle probably destroyed a Me110. He shared a Me110 on 11 July and a Do17 on 4 September. He was promoted to Flight Lieutenant
Flight Lieutenant
Flight lieutenant is a junior commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many Commonwealth countries. It ranks above flying officer and immediately below squadron leader. The name of the rank is the complete phrase; it is never shortened to "lieutenant"...
on 4 October 1940.
In January 1941 Riddle was posted to No. 10 Group RAF
No. 10 Group RAF
No. 10 Group of the Royal Air Force was formed on 1 April 1918 in No. 2 Area. On 8 May of the next year it was transferred to South-Western Area. In 1919 it was transferred to Coastal Area where it remained until it was disbanded on 18 January 1932....
(RAF Box) as a Sector Controller. He was mentioned in dispatches
Mentioned in Dispatches
A soldier Mentioned in Despatches is one whose name appears in an official report written by a superior officer and sent to the high command, in which is described the soldier's gallant or meritorious action in the face of the enemy.In a number of countries, a soldier's name must be mentioned in...
in March 1941. He was promoted to Squadron Leader
Squadron Leader
Squadron Leader is a commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence. It is also sometimes used as the English translation of an equivalent rank in countries which have a non-English air force-specific rank structure. In these...
on 1 December 1941. Later in the war he was in the Far East at HQ Air South East Asia Command
South East Asia Command
South East Asia Command was the body set up to be in overall charge of Allied operations in the South-East Asian Theatre during World War II.-Background:...
, in Ceylon and later Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
. Riddle was released from the RAF in 1946 as a Squadron Leader
Squadron Leader
Squadron Leader is a commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence. It is also sometimes used as the English translation of an equivalent rank in countries which have a non-English air force-specific rank structure. In these...
.
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. He was involved with the Billy FiskeBilly Fiske
William Meade Lindsley "Billy" Fiske III was the 1928 and 1932 Olympic champion bobsled driver and, following Jimmy Davies, was one of the first American pilots killed in action in World War II...
Memorial Window at Boxgrove Priory
Boxgrove Priory
Boxgrove Priory, in the village of Boxgrove in Sussex, was founded in about 1066 by Robert de Haye, who in 1105 bestowed the church of St. Mary of Boxgrove upon the Benedictine Abbey of Lessay. In about 1126 upon the marriage of Robert's daughter Cecily, to Roger St...
.
Jack Riddle died on 8 August 2009, aged 95 in Chichester
Chichester
Chichester is a cathedral city in West Sussex, within the historic County of Sussex, South-East England. It has a long history as a settlement; its Roman past and its subsequent importance in Anglo-Saxon times are only its beginnings...
.