Thomas Jonathan Jackson Christian Jr.

Thomas Jonathan Jackson Christian Jr. (19 November 1915 – 12 August 1944) was a colonel in the United States Army Air Forces and commanding officer of the 361st Fighter Group during World War II.[1][2] He was the great-grandson of American Civil War General Stonewall Jackson.

Thomas Jonathan Jackson Christian Jr.
Colonel Jack Christian
Nickname(s)Jack
Born(1915-11-19)November 19, 1915
San Francisco, California
DiedAugust 12, 1944(1944-08-12) (aged 28)
Boisleux-au-Mont, France
Buried
Texas State Cemetery
Allegiance United States of America
Service/branchUnited States Army Air Forces
Years of service1939-1944
RankColonel
Service numberO-21782
Unit19th Bombardment Group
67th Pursuit Squadron
Commands held361st Fighter Group
Battles/warsWorld War II
AwardsAir Medal with 3 oak leaf clusters
American Defense Medal
Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal
Croix de Guerre
Distinguished Flying Cross with 1 oak leaf cluster
European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal
Philippine Defense Ribbon
Purple Heart
Silver Star
World War II Victory Medal

Early life and education

Christian was born in San Francisco, California on 19 November 1915. His father was brigadier-general Thomas Jonathan Jackson Christian Sr.

Pilot training

Christian graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1939 and entered the Field Artillery Branch. He later joined the United States Army Air Corps. In 1940, after pilot training, he became an instructor at Randolph Field, Texas.

World War II

Christian was transferred to the 19th Bombardment Group at Clark Field in the Philippines in March 1941. During the Battle of the Philippines he was reassigned to Bataan and then Australia.

He was assigned to the 67th Pursuit Squadron at Henderson Field (Guadalcanal) in the Solomon Islands and flew a P-39 Airacobra.

Christian's P-51 Mustang aircraft P-51D-5-NA s/n 44-13410 "Lou IV"

He returned to the United States and was given command of the newly formed 361st Fighter Group (as a major) in February 1943. The group moved to RAF Bottisham in November of 1943. He was promoted to colonel in March 1944.

He was shot down and killed on 12 August 1944 near Boisleux-au-Mont, France.

Awards and decorations

Christian was awarded the Silver Star, the Distinguished Flying Cross with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Air Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters, and the Purple Heart.

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See also

Nathan Bedford Forrest III, another great-grandson of a notable Confederate general who was a high-ranking USAAF pilot killed in action in the ETO in World War II

References
  1. Chris Dickon (29 September 2011). The Foreign Burial of American War Dead: A History. McFarland. pp. 97–. ISBN 978-0-7864-8501-7.
  2. Paul B. Cora (2002). Yellowjackets!: The 361st Fighter Group in World War II. Schiffer Pub. ISBN 978-0-7643-1466-7.
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