LEST WE FORGET
Flying Officer George CHRISTENSEN
Service No: 404235
Born: Brisbane QLD, 28 May 1915
Enlisted in the RAAF: 19 July 1940
Unit: No. 1 Squadron, operating from Palembang
Died: Air Operations: (No. 1 Squadron Hudson aircraft A16-21), Sumatra, 14 February 1942, Aged 26 Years
Buried: Unrecovered
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Thomas and Martha Christensen.
Roll of Honour: Brisbane QLD
Remembered: Column 421, Singapore Memorial, Singapore
Remembered: Panel 97, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Of 5 Hudsons (2 from No. 1 Squadron and 3 from No. 62 Squadron (RAF)) one, piloted by Flight Lieutenant Gibbes (1), was the only aircraft to return. The other No. 1 Squadron Hudson, piloted by Lockwood, was last seen losing height with smoke pouring from one engine and two Zeros following it down in close pursuit. Gibbes and his crew, who scored a direct hit on a merchant ship, saw nothing more of the three No. 62 Squadron Hudsons and presumed that they too had been shot down.
(1) Squadron Leader Peter John Gibbes DFC AFC (262097) was discharged from the RAAF on 3 January 1945.
Extract from Gillison, D.N. (Douglas Napier) (254475) Royal Australian Air Force 1939-1942, Australian War Memorial, Canberra, 1962 – Page 393
The crew members of A16-21 were:
Flying Officer George Christensen (404235) (Observer)
Sergeant Eric Edmondson (406227) (Wireless Air Gunner)
Flight Lieutenant John McAllaster Hardman Lockwood MID (554) (Pilot)
Sergeant Adrian William Munday MID (8335) (Wireless Air Gunner)
Earlier on the same day, No. 1 Squadron lost Hudson aircraft A16-85 (Flight Lieutenant James Kenneth Douglas DFC MID (Pilot) (260280)).
References:
Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour On-Line Records
Commonwealth War Graves Commission On-Line Records
Department of Veteran’s Affairs On-Line WWII Nominal Roll
National Archives of Australia On-Line Record A705, 163/25/112
Bibliography:
Vincent, D. (David) The RAAF Hudson Story Book 1, D. Vincent Highbury SA 5089, 1989
Wilson, S. (Stewart) Anson, Hudson and Sunderland in Australian Service, Aerospace Publications Weston Creek ACT 2611, 1992