Bio / Text:
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Servicenumber 36162.
Christopher Mount’s father was killed in the battle at Loos in WW 1. Christopher studied at Eton and later at Trinity College in Oxford. While at the university, he joined the University Air Squadron and on completing his training he joined the RAAF. Three years later, however he decided to enlist in the RAF.
During the Battle of Britain he served as Flight Commander in 602 Squadron. Later on he was given the task of establishing a new squadron, 317 (Polish), but after a month he left for Drem to take command of 260 Squadron. Almost immediately, 260 embarked on HMS Victorious and shipped to Gibraltar where they were placed aboard HMS Ark Royal.
Once within reach of Malta, he led the squadron from the carrier to the island. However, that was not their final destination and after a period of rest the squadron continued on its way to Egypt and later on to Palestine to be deployed in operations against the Vichy French in Syria. He fell ill and after having been misdiagnosed by a vet, he was admitted to hospital with a ruptured appendix.
He returned to active service and took command of 238 Squadron flying Hurricanes. While there he raised his tally to 4 downed enemies including one during the Battle of Britain. After leaving 238, he was retrained to fly dual-engine bombers and in April 1943 was put in command of 104 Squadron flying Wellingtons. With the squadron he carried out attacks on targets in Italy and supported the Allied landings at Salerno.
After the war, he attended Staff College in Haifa, was employed in various staff functions and became commander of a number of airbases before leaving the RAF in 1966.
He attended a refresher course in law and went to work in a sollicitor’s firm, Wrights in Maidenhead, Berkshire. He was a partner between 1970 and 1979. In 1984 he was named Deputy Lieutenant for Berkshire.
Promotions:
March 26th, 1939: Flying Officer
September 2nd, 1940: Flight Lieutenant
September 1st, 1941: Squadron Leader
July 1st, 1943: Wing Commander (temp)
October 1st, 1946: Wing Commander
Juli 1st, 1951: Group Captain
January 1st, 1958: Air Commodore
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Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC)
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Flight Lieutenant
Unit:
No. 602 (City of Glasgow) Squadron, Royal Air Force
Awarded on:
November 26th, 1940
Citation:
"This officer has shown outstanding ability as a leader. One day in October, 1940, he led his squadron against the enemy with outstanding success when eight of their aircraft were destroyed without loss. Flight Lieutenant Mount has himself destroyed two and damaged a further three enemy aircraft."
Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC)
Distinguished Service Order (DSO)
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Acting Wing Commander
Unit:
No. 104 Squadron, Royal Air Force
Awarded on:
October 1st, 1943
Distinguished Service Order (DSO)
Citation:
"Wing Cdr. Mount has completed three tours of operational duty, and has commanded his squadron since March, 1943. He has taken part in many sorties, and in May, 1943, participated in an attack on Messina. Despite intense and accurate opposition, he pressed home his attack, and although, his aircraft suffered damage from the enemy defences, very good results were obtained."
