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P-51B-15-NA, s/n 42-106942, Col. Thomas Cristian, CO 361st FG, 8th AF,
Bottisham, UK, June 1944
West Point graduate Thomas Christian decided
to follow in his father’s footsteps and enlisted
in the Artillery. Here he achieved the rank of
Second Lieutenant and soon changed his mind
due to his interest in flying. He next attended the
Texas Air Corps Flying School and then, in 1940,
was appointed an instructor at Randolph Field.
In March 1941, he joined the 19th BG in the
Philippines and flew B-17s, and after the Japanese
invasion he was transferred to Australia where
he flew P-40s. While doing so he was shot down
and presumed missing. However, with the help
of the natives, he made it back. In 1942, he was
assigned to the 67th Pursuit Squadron, where he
flew the P-400 and was promoted to the rank of
major. Back in the US, he joined the 361st FG as
its first commander. It was the last group to be
armed with Thunderbolts in the 8th AF. Cristian
flew three aircraft in succession, all named Lou
after his daughter. In March 1944, at the age of
28, he was promoted to Colonel and continued to
fly combat missions until his last one on August
12, 1944. That day he was hit by anti-aircraft fire
while attacking ground targets and was killed in
a crash.
INFO Eduard
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August 2024