Peter Christy
Encyclopedia
Squadron Leader
Peter Christy (Born:1937 – December 6, 1971), S.J, was a P.A.F
bomber pilot and Weapon Systems Officer
(WSO). A B-57 Canberra
navigator, Squadron Leader Christy is officially declared "missing in action
" since December 1971, but widely presumed dead by the Pakistan Defence Forces as of 2004.
then-British India in 1937. The son of M.B Christy, he initially completed his secondary school education from St Patrick's High School, Karachi and passed matriculation
with good marks. According to Christy’s teachers, he had been a very intelligent student who always performed very well in sports as well.
in 1955 and graduated from a basic flying training program in 1958. The same year he was sent to the Commanders and Combat Flight School at Shorkot
. He graduated from there with a specialization in air weapons system and gained a commission in the air force. Christy began his career in 1962 as Flying Commission Officer
(FCO). In 1964, FCO Christ was promoted to Flight Lieutenant.
Christy served as a B-57 Canberra navigator
pilot and flew a number of successful operational missions
in the 1965 war
. His efforts gained him praise and he was conferred with Tamgha-i-Jurat
by the Government of Pakistan
in 1965 at the colorful public ceremony. In 1968 he was promoted to the rank of Squadron Leader
in the Air Force.
In December 1971, Christy was on abroad on deputation with Pakistan International Airlines
(PIA). While at PIA, he was informed about the Indo-Pakistani War and volunteered to return to the Pakistan Air Force for war duties. However, the PAF had already selected the teams of fighter pilots to carry out their aerial missions. Undauted, Christy reported to Group Captain
Cecil Chaudhry
. In December 1971, he was selected for bomber aerial operations.
On December 4, 1971 at 4:00 o'clock in the evening
from PAF Base Faisal, he was given a special mission to destroy an Indian Air Force
special air station
located at Jamnagar
because missile attacks had increased from the Indian side and their fighter planes were continuously targeting the PAF flying bases in Karachi.
After attending continuous briefing sessions with his commanders, he, as a Weapon Systems Officer
(WSO) and navigator, along with Wing Commander
Stephen Israel prepared for the mission. The mission codename was "Do-or-Die (DoD)". On December 6, 1971, Christy was detailed as navigator for a bombing mission to Jamnagar. The mission was completed successfully and the Indian Air Force's air station was completed destroyed but Christy failed to return home.
It was widely speculated that his aircraft was shot down by an Indian Surface-to-air missile
and that he had been captured by the Indian Forces. However, after the war, India denied the shooting down of such an aircraft on December 6 and was unable to track down the pilot. On December 8, he was officially declared as "missing in action
". The Government of Pakistan posthumously awarded him the third highest military award
Sitara-e-Jurat
(Star of Courage) in 1971. On September 6, 2006, independent analyst B. Harry published the war study report IAF Combat Kills- 1971 Indo-Pak Air War, claiming that Christy had died while returning to Pakistan when IAF's Anti-aircraft Artillery
shot down Christy's plane, and that he had died before capture. However, India's Ministry of External Affairs
declined to give any comments. On September 6, 2004, Squadron Leader Peter Christy was honored by the Pakistan Television (PTV)
in a program sponsored by the Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR)
.
Squadron Leader
Squadron Leader is a commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence. It is also sometimes used as the English translation of an equivalent rank in countries which have a non-English air force-specific rank structure. In these...
Peter Christy (Born:1937 – December 6, 1971), S.J, was a P.A.F
Pakistan Air Force
The Pakistan Air Force is the leading air arm of the Pakistan Armed Forces and is primarily tasked with the aerial defence of Pakistan with a secondary role of providing air support to the Pakistan Army and the Pakistan Navy. The PAF also has a tertiary role of providing strategic air transport...
bomber pilot and Weapon Systems Officer
Weapon systems officer
A Weapon Systems Officer is an air Flight Officer directly involved in all air operations and weapon systems of the fighter in the United States Navy. A Weapon Systems Officer ("WSO", pronounced "wizzo") is an air Flight Officer directly involved in all air operations and weapon systems of the...
(WSO). A B-57 Canberra
B-57 Canberra
The Martin B-57 Canberra was a United States-built, twin jet engine light bomber and reconnaissance aircraft, which entered service with the United States Air Force in 1953. The B-57 was initially a version of the English Electric Canberra built under license. However, the Glenn L...
navigator, Squadron Leader Christy is officially declared "missing in action
Missing in action
Missing in action is a casualty Category assigned under the Status of Missing to armed services personnel who are reported missing during active service. They may have been killed, wounded, become a prisoner of war, or deserted. If deceased, neither their remains nor grave can be positively...
" since December 1971, but widely presumed dead by the Pakistan Defence Forces as of 2004.
Education
Christy was born in KarachiKarachi
Karachi is the largest city, main seaport and the main financial centre of Pakistan, as well as the capital of the province of Sindh. The city has an estimated population of 13 to 15 million, while the total metropolitan area has a population of over 18 million...
then-British India in 1937. The son of M.B Christy, he initially completed his secondary school education from St Patrick's High School, Karachi and passed matriculation
Matriculation
Matriculation, in the broadest sense, means to be registered or added to a list, from the Latin matricula – little list. In Scottish heraldry, for instance, a matriculation is a registration of armorial bearings...
with good marks. According to Christy’s teachers, he had been a very intelligent student who always performed very well in sports as well.
Air Force Career
Christy entered the Pakistan Air Force AcademyPakistan Air Force Academy
"RAF Risalpur", "Risalpur Airbase/Airfield" & "Pakistan Air Force/PAF Base Risalpur" redirects here.The Pakistan Air Force Academy also known as PAFA, is an accredited co-educational four-year college for the undergraduate education of officer candidates for the Pakistan Air Force...
in 1955 and graduated from a basic flying training program in 1958. The same year he was sent to the Commanders and Combat Flight School at Shorkot
Shorkot
Shorkot is a city in the Jhang District of Punjab, Pakistan. It is located at 30°50'0N 72°4'0E with an altitude of 131 metres and lies in the centre of the district, serving as the headquarters of Shorkot Tehsil. The Sarfraz Rafiqi Airbase, the third largest in Pakistan, is located here...
. He graduated from there with a specialization in air weapons system and gained a commission in the air force. Christy began his career in 1962 as Flying Commission Officer
Flying Officer
Flying officer is a junior commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence...
(FCO). In 1964, FCO Christ was promoted to Flight Lieutenant.
Christy served as a B-57 Canberra navigator
Navigator
A navigator is the person on board a ship or aircraft responsible for its navigation. The navigator's primary responsibility is to be aware of ship or aircraft position at all times. Responsibilities include planning the journey, advising the Captain or aircraft Commander of estimated timing to...
pilot and flew a number of successful operational missions
Aerial warfare in 1965 India Pakistan War
The Indo-Pakistani War of 1965 saw the Indian and Pakistani Air Forces engaged in large-scale aerial combat against each other for the first time since the Partition in 1947. The war took place during the course of September 1965 and saw both air forces conduct defensive and offensive operations...
in the 1965 war
Indo-Pakistani War of 1965
The Indo-Pakistani War of 1965 was a culmination of skirmishes that took place between April 1965 and September 1965 between Pakistan and India. This conflict became known as the Second Kashmir War fought by India and Pakistan over the disputed region of Kashmir, the first having been fought in 1947...
. His efforts gained him praise and he was conferred with Tamgha-i-Jurat
Tamgha-i-Jurat
Tamgha-i-Jurat , is the fourth highest military award of Pakistan. It was established in 1957 after Pakistan became a Republic, however, it was instituted retrospectively back to 1947...
by the Government of Pakistan
Government of Pakistan
The Government of Pakistan is a federal parliamentary system, with an indirectly-elected President as the Head of State and Commander in Chief of the Pakistani Armed Forces, and an indirectly-elected Prime Minister as the Head of Government. The President’s appointment and term are...
in 1965 at the colorful public ceremony. In 1968 he was promoted to the rank of Squadron Leader
Squadron Leader
Squadron Leader is a commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence. It is also sometimes used as the English translation of an equivalent rank in countries which have a non-English air force-specific rank structure. In these...
in the Air Force.
In December 1971, Christy was on abroad on deputation with Pakistan International Airlines
Pakistan International Airlines
Pakistan International Airlines Corporation commonly known as PIA, is the flag carrier airline of Pakistan. The airline has its head office on the grounds of Jinnah International Airport in Karachi. and operates scheduled services to 24 domestic destinations and 38 international destinations in 27...
(PIA). While at PIA, he was informed about the Indo-Pakistani War and volunteered to return to the Pakistan Air Force for war duties. However, the PAF had already selected the teams of fighter pilots to carry out their aerial missions. Undauted, Christy reported to Group Captain
Group Captain
Group captain is a senior commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many other Commonwealth countries. It ranks above wing commander and immediately below air commodore...
Cecil Chaudhry
Cecil Chaudhry
Group Captain Cecil Chaudhry is a Pakistani Christian, educationalist, human rights activist and veteran fighter pilot. As a Flight Lieutenant, he fought in the Indo-Pakistani war of 1965 and later, as a Squadron Leader, in the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971...
. In December 1971, he was selected for bomber aerial operations.
On December 4, 1971 at 4:00 o'clock in the evening
Evening
Evening is the period between the late afternoon and night when daylight is decreasing, around dinner time at 6pm. Though the term is subjective, evening is typically understood to begin before sunset, during the close of the standard business day and extend until nightfall, the beginning of night...
from PAF Base Faisal, he was given a special mission to destroy an Indian Air Force
Indian Air Force
The Indian Air Force is the air arm of the Indian armed forces. Its primary responsibility is to secure Indian airspace and to conduct aerial warfare during a conflict...
special air station
Air station
Air station may refer to:* AirStation is the name given to a series of wireless LAN equipment sold by Buffalo Technology* Airbase* Naval air station* A station to refill an air car....
located at Jamnagar
Jamnagar
Jamnagar is a city and a municipal corporation in Jamnagar district in the Indian state of Gujarat. The city was built up substantially by Maharaja Kumar Shri Ranjitsinhji in the 1920s, when the district was known as Nawanagar. The district lies just to the south of the Gulf of Kutch and is...
because missile attacks had increased from the Indian side and their fighter planes were continuously targeting the PAF flying bases in Karachi.
After attending continuous briefing sessions with his commanders, he, as a Weapon Systems Officer
Weapon systems officer
A Weapon Systems Officer is an air Flight Officer directly involved in all air operations and weapon systems of the fighter in the United States Navy. A Weapon Systems Officer ("WSO", pronounced "wizzo") is an air Flight Officer directly involved in all air operations and weapon systems of the...
(WSO) and navigator, along with Wing Commander
Wing Commander (rank)
Wing commander is a commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many other Commonwealth countries...
Stephen Israel prepared for the mission. The mission codename was "Do-or-Die (DoD)". On December 6, 1971, Christy was detailed as navigator for a bombing mission to Jamnagar. The mission was completed successfully and the Indian Air Force's air station was completed destroyed but Christy failed to return home.
It was widely speculated that his aircraft was shot down by an Indian Surface-to-air missile
Surface-to-air missile
A surface-to-air missile or ground-to-air missile is a missile designed to be launched from the ground to destroy aircraft or other missiles...
and that he had been captured by the Indian Forces. However, after the war, India denied the shooting down of such an aircraft on December 6 and was unable to track down the pilot. On December 8, he was officially declared as "missing in action
Missing in action
Missing in action is a casualty Category assigned under the Status of Missing to armed services personnel who are reported missing during active service. They may have been killed, wounded, become a prisoner of war, or deserted. If deceased, neither their remains nor grave can be positively...
". The Government of Pakistan posthumously awarded him the third highest military award
Awards and decorations of the Pakistan military
The awards and decorations of the Pakistan Armed Forces recognize a service member's service and personal accomplishments while a member of the Pakistan armed forces...
Sitara-e-Jurat
Sitara-e-Jurat
Sitara-e-Jurat is the third highest military award of Pakistan. It was established in 1957 after Pakistan became a Republic; however, it was instituted retrospectively back to 1947...
(Star of Courage) in 1971. On September 6, 2006, independent analyst B. Harry published the war study report IAF Combat Kills- 1971 Indo-Pak Air War, claiming that Christy had died while returning to Pakistan when IAF's Anti-aircraft Artillery
Anti-aircraft warfare
NATO defines air defence as "all measures designed to nullify or reduce the effectiveness of hostile air action." They include ground and air based weapon systems, associated sensor systems, command and control arrangements and passive measures. It may be to protect naval, ground and air forces...
shot down Christy's plane, and that he had died before capture. However, India's Ministry of External Affairs
Ministry of External Affairs (India)
The Ministry of External Affairs is the foreign ministry of India. It is the Indian government agency responsible for the foreign relations of India. The Minister of External Affairs holds cabinet rank as a member of the Council of Ministers. The current minister is S M Krishna...
declined to give any comments. On September 6, 2004, Squadron Leader Peter Christy was honored by the Pakistan Television (PTV)
Pakistan Television Corporation
The Pakistan Television Corporation is Pakistan's national television broadcaster. The first live transmission of PTV began on November 26, 1964, in Lahore...
in a program sponsored by the Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR)
Inter Services Public Relations
Inter Services Public Relations is an administrative military organization within the Pakistan Defence Forces that coordinates military information with the media and the civil society...
.