| Leonard Arthur Christian | |
|---|---|
| Nickname | "Leo" |
| Born | 9 May 1889 Near Armstrong, British Columbia, Canada |
| Died | 24 January 1955 Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada |
| Mountain View Cemetery and Crematorium | Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada |
| Allegiance | Canada |
| Service/branch | Aviation |
| Rank | Lieutenant |
| Unit | No. 206 Squadron RAF |
| Awards | Distinguished Flying Cross |
| Other work | Served in the Royal Canadian Air Force during World War II |
Lieutenant Leonard Arthur Christian was a Canadian World War I flying ace credited with nine aerial victories scored while he flew as an observer/gunner on Airco DH.9 bombers.
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Christian was born on a farm near Armstrong, British Columbia, Canada[1] on 9 May 1889.[2] HIs parents were Josephine E. and Joseph W. Christian.[3] He was a bachelor[4] horse breeder until he joined the military for World War I.[5]
Christian underwent pilot's training and graduated as a probationary Flying Officer in Bloody April 1917. However, because he was phobic about heights, he volunteered to serve as an aerial observer instead. He was posted to 6 Naval Squadron as an observer/gunner in Airco DH.9s and remained in the unit as it transformed into 206 Squadron of the Royal Air Force. Four months later, he began the victory tally that would run through 1 August 1918. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for his defensive valor during the 47 bombing raids that he flew.[6]
His Distinguished Flying Cross was gazetted on 21 September 1918:
Lieutenant Leonard Arthur Christian (late R.N.A.S.)
"Since joining his squadron this officer has taken part in forty-seven bomb raids, displaying at all times keenness and determination, and rendering his pilot most valuable support. He has accounted for four enemy aeroplanes, destroying two, and driving down two out of control."[7]
Although trained as a pilot, Christian scored all his victories as an observer/gunner on a bomber.
| No. | Date/time | Aircraft | Foe | Result | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 19 May 1918 @ 1940 hours | Airco DH.9 serial number C6240 | Albatros D.V | Driven down out of control | Geluwe | Christian's pilot: Captain G L E Stevens |
| 2 | 7 June 1918 @ 1200 hours | Airco DH.9 s/n C1181 | Fokker Triplane | Set on fire; destroyed | Bac-St.-Maur | Christian's pilot: Captain G L E Stevens |
| 3 | 12 June 1918 @ 1232 hours | Airco DH.9 s/n C6240 | Pfalz D.III | Destroyed | Zonnebeke | Christian's pilot: Captain G L E Stevens |
| 4 | 1 July 1918 @ 2015 hours | Airco DH.9 s/n B7596 | Pfalz D.III | Set afire; destroyed | Houthem | Christian's pilot: Captain G L E Stevens. Shared victory. |
| 5 | 29 July 1918 @ 1920 hours | Airco DH.9 s/n B7596 | Fokker D.VII | Set afire; destroyed | North of Menen | Christian's pilot: Leslie Reginald Warren |
| 6 | 29 July 1918 @ 1922 hours | Airco DH.9 s/n B7596 | Fokker D.VII | Set afire; destroyed | North of Menen | Christian's pilot: Leslie Reginald Warren |
| 7 | 29 July 1918 @ 1930 hours | Airco DH.9 s/n B7596 | Fokker D.VII | Destroyed | West of Courtrai | Christian's pilot: Leslie Reginald Warren |
| 8 | 1 August 1918 @ 0830 hours | Airco DH.9 s/n B7598 | Fokker D.VII | Driven down out of control | Between Menen and Wervicq | Christian's pilot: Leslie Reginald Warren |
| 9 | 1 August 1918 @ 0830 hours | Airco DH.9 s/n B7598 | Fokker D.VII | Destroyed | Between Menin and Wervicq | Christian's pilot: Leslie Reginald Warren[8] |
See also Aerial victory standards of World War I
On 23 August 1919, Christian was placed on the Royal Air Force's unemployed list.[9] He returned to his horse farm to breed race horses. He returned to service in the Royal Canadian Air Force for World War II.[10]
Leonard Arthur Christian died on 23 January 1955 and is interred in Mountain View Cemetery and Crematorium in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.[11]
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