Posted By GEORGE D. KASPARIAN on April 18, 2006 at 13:26:45:
In Reply to: Re: FRED J. CHRISTENSEN posted by Moofy (Yvonne)UK on April 16, 2006 at 14:25:59:
: : The Boston, MA area newspapers reported on the death of Col. Fred J. Christensen, USAF retired on Tuesday April 4, 2006. He was 84. He was a P-47 pilot who flew 107 missions while assigned to the 56th Fighter Group and was credited with downing 21+1/2 German planes and damaging several others. Fred was awarded the Silver Star, the DFC with 6 Oak Leaf Clusters, and the Air Medal with many OLC's. He was born in Watertown, MA and graduated from Watertown High School. Fred attended Harvard U., MIT, and Boston U. He died in Northborough, MA and was buried at the MA National Cemetery at Bourne, MA. He leaves three daughters, two grandsons, two great-grandchildren, and nieces and nephews. I am grateful for his service to the country and I admire his devotion to his family.
: : George D. Kasparian
: Thanks George.
: May He Rest In Peace.
: As their numbers dwindle with each passing day, may they always be remembered.
: George, I remember reading somewhere a little tale about Col. Fred Christiansen (when he was a Lt.) He had a pet cat I think it was called Sinbad, and before one mission the cat climbed onto the parachutes in the loft and would not come down, and the pilots of each of the parachutes Sinbad sat on all scored during that mission.
: Cheers,
: Moofy
Hi Moofy,
The obituary in the Boston Globe of 10 April 2006 does tell the story about Sinbad, the black cat as you described. One thing I was curious about was what happened if Christensen had to fly at high altitude. Did he let Sinbad use his oxygen mask? In the Globe article, there is a picture of Christensen waving from the cockpit of a P-47 with 22 swastikas stencilled on it. The oxygen mask and its supply hose are clearly in evidence. George K.