Christopher Riddle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Christopher John Henry Riddle
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|---|---|
| Birth name | Christopher John Henry Riddle |
| Nickname(s) | Jack |
| Born | 4 April 1914 Buckinghamshire |
| Died | 8 August 2009 (aged 95) Chichester |
| Allegiance |  United Kingdom |
| Service/ |
 Royal Air Force |
| Years of service | 1938–1946 |
| Rank | Squadron Leader |
| Unit | No. 601 Squadron RAF No. 10 Group RAF |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
| Other work | Timber, Textiles |
Christopher John Henry Riddle, known as Jack, was a brave pilot in the Royal Air Force (RAF) during World War II. He was famous for flying during the Battle of Britain. He held the rank of Squadron Leader.
Early Life
Jack Riddle was born in Buckinghamshire, England, on April 4, 1914. He went to a school called Harrow School from 1928 to 1931. He was also a member of a special club in London called White's.
Air Force Career
Jack joined the Royal Air Force in 1938. He became part of a group called No. 601 Squadron RAF, which was part of the Auxiliary Air Force. When World War II started in October 1939, he began serving full-time.
Jack flew with his squadron throughout the Battle of Britain. His older brother, Hugh Riddle, also flew with him. On May 27, 1940, near Dunkirk, Jack likely shot down a German Bf 110 plane. He also helped shoot down another Bf 110 on July 11 and a Do 17 on September 4. He was promoted to Flight Lieutenant on October 4, 1940.
In January 1941, Jack was moved to No. 10 Group RAF at RAF Box. Here, he worked as a Sector Controller, helping to guide planes and manage air battles from the ground. He was recognized for his service in March 1941. On December 1, 1941, he was promoted again to Squadron Leader. Later in the war, he served in the Far East, working at the Air Headquarters for South East Asia Command. This was in places like Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) and later Singapore. Jack left the RAF in 1946 as a Squadron Leader.
Later Life
After the war, Jack Riddle worked for a big international trading company. His main job was buying timber (wood) from the Baltic region to sell in Australia. Later, he started his own company that made textiles (fabrics). He also helped with the Billy Fiske Memorial Window at Boxgrove Priory.
Jack Riddle passed away on August 8, 2009, in Chichester. He was 95 years old.
