Johan Koren Christie (officer)
Encyclopedia
Johan Koren Christie was a Norwegian engineer and air force officer, who reached the rank of major general
in the Royal Norwegian Air Force
.
as a son of professor Werner Hosewinckel Christie
(1877–1927) and Karen Amalie Wedel-Jarlsberg (1886–1952). He was a brother of pianist Amalie Christie
and officer Werner Hosewinckel Christie
and a grandnephew of politician Hans Langsted Christie
and Christian Christie
. He was also a second cousin of Jacob Christie Kielland
and Else Christie Kielland.
In 1939 he married Gustava Kielland Winsnes (1910–1993). They had the son Werner Christie
, a politician.
in 1927, attended Hærens Flyveskole from 1929 to 1930 and graduated from the Technische College of Berlin
in 1935. From 1936 to 1938 he worked at Trondheim Airport, Værnes
as well as a lecturer at the Norwegian Institute of Technology
. In 1939 he was hired in the company Norsk Aluminium, and he was on a working trip in Linköping
when World War II
reached Norway
on 9 April 1940. He subsequently travelled to Norway, where he was involved in fighting
near Kongsvinger between 13 April and 17 April. He then joined a group which retreated north. After learning that Southern Norway had fallen to German rule, he travelled to the Norwegian legation in Stockholm
and was dispatched as a courier for Otto Ruge in Northern Norway, where fighting continued. On 7 June 1940, when Norway capitulated, Christie followed the cabinet and the royal family
in their exodus to London
. He was sent to Little Norway
in Canada on 21 July, but returned to London in 1941 to head the Flyvåpnenes Felleskommando. He also underwent training, and from 1943 he served as an RAF Pathfinder
in the 35 Squadron. He wrote a diary from 1943 to 1944, which has not been published, but is available for historians. In June 1944 he quit active flight, and became connected to the Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Forces. He then headed the Repatriation Office, which tracked and rescued Norwegian concentration camp prisoners as Germany lost the war. He was decorated with the War Cross with Sword, the St. Olav Medal With Oak Branch, the Distinguished Flying Cross
, Distinguished Service Order
, Order of the British Empire
, the Bronze Star Medal
and even the German Cross of Merit.
After the war he held both civil and military jobs. From 1946 to 1949 he worked in Det Norske Luftfartsselskap, and from 1949 to 1952 he worked in NATO. From 1952 to 1963 he headed Forsvarsdepartementets materielldirektorat, and from 1963 to 1974 he headed Luftforsvarets forsyningskommando. He also headed the Aviation Accident Committee from 1959 to 1962, a predecessor of the Accident Investigation Board Norway. He reached the rank of colonel in 1959, and major general in 1963.
As a pensioner he was involved in the peace movement
, in the groups ('Generals and Admirals for Peace') and ('Generals and Admirals against Nuclear Arms'). He died in July 1995 at the family farm in Vang.
Major General
Major general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
in the Royal Norwegian Air Force
Royal Norwegian Air Force
The Royal Norwegian Air Force is the air force of Norway. It was established as a separate arm of the Norwegian armed forces on 10 November 1944. The RNoAF's peace force is approximately 1,430 employees . 600 personnel also serve their draft period in the RNoAF...
.
Personal life
He was born in Vang, HedmarkVang, Hedmark
Vang is a former municipality in Hedmark county, Norway.Vang was established as a municipality January 1, 1838 . The city of Hamar was separated from Vang in 1849. Furnes was separated from Vang in 1891...
as a son of professor Werner Hosewinckel Christie
Werner Hosewinckel Christie (1877–1927)
Werner Hosewinkel Christie was a Norwegian agricultural researcher.-Personal life:He was born in Hommelvik as a son of engineer Johan Koren Christie and Catherine Frederike Blom. He was a grandnephew of Wilhelm Frimann Koren Christie and Edvard Eilert Christie and a nephew of politician Hans...
(1877–1927) and Karen Amalie Wedel-Jarlsberg (1886–1952). He was a brother of pianist Amalie Christie
Amalie Christie
-Personal life:She was born in Vang, Hedmark as a daughter of professor Werner Hosewinckel Christie. She was a sister of officers Johan and Werner Christie, a grandniece of politician Hans Langsted Christie and Christian Christie, an aunt of Werner Christie and a second cousin of Jacob Christie...
and officer Werner Hosewinckel Christie
Werner Hosewinckel Christie (officer)
Werner Hosewinckel Christie was a Norwegian air force officer, who reached the rank of major general in the Royal Norwegian Air Force.-Personal life:...
and a grandnephew of politician Hans Langsted Christie
Hans Langsted Christie
Hans Langsted Christie was a Norwegian jurist and politician.He was born in Fridalen in Aarstad a son of customs treasurer Werner Hosewinckel Christie...
and Christian Christie
Christian Christie
Eilert Christian Brodtkorb Christie was a Norwegian architect.-Personal life:He was born in Bergen as a son of customs officer Werner Hosewinckel Christie and Hansine Langsted...
. He was also a second cousin of Jacob Christie Kielland
Jacob Christie Kielland
-Personal life:He was born in Bergen to architect Jens Zetlitz Monrad Kielland and his wife Anna Magdalena Cathrine , née Christie. His grandfather was priest and politician Jacob Kielland, and through him, Jacob Christie Kielland was the grandnephew of painter Kitty Lange Kielland and novelist...
and Else Christie Kielland.
In 1939 he married Gustava Kielland Winsnes (1910–1993). They had the son Werner Christie
Werner Christie
Werner Hosewinckel Christie is a Norwegian politician for the Labour Party. He was Norway's first Minister of Health from 1992 to 1995, serving in Gro Harlem Brundtland's cabinet from 1992 to 1996....
, a politician.
Career
Christie took his examen artiumExamen artium
Examen artium was the name of the academic certification conferred in Denmark and Norway, qualifying the student for admission to university studies. Examen artium was originally introduced as the entrance exam of the University of Copenhagen in 1630...
in 1927, attended Hærens Flyveskole from 1929 to 1930 and graduated from the Technische College of Berlin
Technical University of Berlin
The Technische Universität Berlin is a research university located in Berlin, Germany. Translating the name into English is discouraged by the university, however paraphrasing as Berlin Institute of Technology is recommended by the university if necessary .The TU Berlin was founded...
in 1935. From 1936 to 1938 he worked at Trondheim Airport, Værnes
Trondheim Airport, Værnes
Trondheim Airport, Værnes is an international airport located in Stjørdal, east of Trondheim, Norway. Operated by the state-owned Avinor, it shares facilities with Værnes Air Station of the Royal Norwegian Air Force. In 2010, the airport had 3,521,734 passengers and 55,747 air movements,...
as well as a lecturer at the Norwegian Institute of Technology
Norwegian Institute of Technology
The Norwegian Institute of Technology, known by its Norwegian abbrevation NTH was a science institute in Trondheim, Norway. It was established in 1910, and existed as an independent technical university for 85 years, after which it was merged into the University of Trondheim as an independent...
. In 1939 he was hired in the company Norsk Aluminium, and he was on a working trip in Linköping
Linköping
Linköping is a city in southern middle Sweden, with 104 232 inhabitants in 2010. It is the seat of Linköping Municipality with 146 736 inhabitants and the capital of Östergötland County...
when World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
reached Norway
Operation Weserübung
Operation Weserübung was the code name for Germany's assault on Denmark and Norway during the Second World War and the opening operation of the Norwegian Campaign...
on 9 April 1940. He subsequently travelled to Norway, where he was involved in fighting
Norwegian Campaign
The Norwegian Campaign was a military campaign that was fought in Norway during the Second World War between the Allies and Germany, after the latter's invasion of the country. In April 1940, the United Kingdom and France came to Norway's aid with an expeditionary force...
near Kongsvinger between 13 April and 17 April. He then joined a group which retreated north. After learning that Southern Norway had fallen to German rule, he travelled to the Norwegian legation in Stockholm
Norwegian legation in Stockholm
The Norwegian Legation in Stockholm played a significant role during the Second World War. Until 9 April 1940 the legation consisted of four persons, and at the end of the war about 1,100 persons were connected to the legation. Refugee cases were among the legation's most central tasks...
and was dispatched as a courier for Otto Ruge in Northern Norway, where fighting continued. On 7 June 1940, when Norway capitulated, Christie followed the cabinet and the royal family
Norwegian Royal Family
The Royal Family of Norway is the family of King Harald V of Norway. In Norway there is a distinction between the Royal House and the Royal Family. The Royal House includes only the King and his spouse, the Queen, the King's eldest son with spouse, being the Crown Prince and Crown Princess, and the...
in their exodus to 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...
. He was sent to Little Norway
Little Norway
The Flyvåpnenes Treningsleir , the official name) or "Little Norway" was a Norwegian Army Air Service/Royal Norwegian Air Force training camp in Canada during the Second World War.-Origins:...
in Canada on 21 July, but returned to London in 1941 to head the Flyvåpnenes Felleskommando. He also underwent training, and from 1943 he served as an RAF Pathfinder
Pathfinder (RAF)
The Pathfinders were elite squadrons in RAF Bomber Command during World War II. They located and marked targets with flares, which a main bomber force could aim at, increasing the accuracy of their bombing...
in the 35 Squadron. He wrote a diary from 1943 to 1944, which has not been published, but is available for historians. In June 1944 he quit active flight, and became connected to the Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Forces. He then headed the Repatriation Office, which tracked and rescued Norwegian concentration camp prisoners as Germany lost the war. He was decorated with the War Cross with Sword, the St. Olav Medal With Oak Branch, the Distinguished Flying Cross
Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)
The Distinguished Flying Cross is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force and other services, and formerly to officers of other Commonwealth countries, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active operations against...
, Distinguished Service Order
Distinguished Service Order
The Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September...
, Order of the British Empire
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
, the Bronze Star Medal
Bronze Star Medal
The Bronze Star Medal is a United States Armed Forces individual military decoration that may be awarded for bravery, acts of merit, or meritorious service. As a medal it is awarded for merit, and with the "V" for valor device it is awarded for heroism. It is the fourth-highest combat award of the...
and even the German Cross of Merit.
After the war he held both civil and military jobs. From 1946 to 1949 he worked in Det Norske Luftfartsselskap, and from 1949 to 1952 he worked in NATO. From 1952 to 1963 he headed Forsvarsdepartementets materielldirektorat, and from 1963 to 1974 he headed Luftforsvarets forsyningskommando. He also headed the Aviation Accident Committee from 1959 to 1962, a predecessor of the Accident Investigation Board Norway. He reached the rank of colonel in 1959, and major general in 1963.
As a pensioner he was involved in the peace movement
Peace movement
A peace movement is a social movement that seeks to achieve ideals such as the ending of a particular war , minimize inter-human violence in a particular place or type of situation, often linked to the goal of achieving world peace...
, in the groups ('Generals and Admirals for Peace') and ('Generals and Admirals against Nuclear Arms'). He died in July 1995 at the family farm in Vang.