HughAHalliday
29th April 2022, 18:52
McCARTHY-JONES, Christopher Cecil – Squadron Leader – Air Efficiency Award – awarded as per London Gazette dated 20 September 1945. Information from Spink auction catalogue of 20 July 2006.
MCCARTHY-JONES, Christopher Cecil – Squadron Leader – Air Efficiency Award – awarded as per London Gazette dated 17 January 1952. Information from Spink auction catalogue of 20 July 2006.
MCCARTHY-JONES, Christopher Cecil – Squadron Leader – Air Force Cross – awarded as per London Gazette dated 1 January 1953. Information from Spink auction catalogue of 20 July 2006.
MCCARTHY, JONES, Christopher Cecil – Wing Commander – Officer, Order of the British Empire – awarded as per London Gazette dated 1 January 1957. Information from Spink auction catalogue of 20 July 2006.
Wing Commander Christopher Cecil McCarthy-Jones, O.B.E., A.F.C. (1916-60), born Bushey-Hertfordshire; educated at Watford Grammar School 1925-30 and Oundle 1930-35; Sergeant Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, 15.9.1938; Pilot Officer 24.12.1939; served with 13 Squadron (Lysanders), Odiham, 21.3.1940-25.7.1940; Flying Officer 24.12.1940; Flight Lieutenant 24.12.1941; posted 19 Squadron (Spitfire Vb’s, Perranporth, 18.8.1942; posted as Flight Commander 504 (County of Nottingham) Squadron (Spitfire Vb’s), Middle Wallop and Ibsley; mainly flew sweeps, local patrols and escorts with the Squadron until 26.7.1943, when piloting Spitfire Vb BM145 as an escort to Bostons against Lille, he was shot down by an enemy fighter, receiving a wound to his head, and was made a prisoner of war near Countrai, Belgium; McCarthy-Jones was taken blindfold and interrogated at Roubaix; he recuperated in the Prince Albert Hospital near Lille, 26.7.1943-5 8.1943, before being imprisoned in the following camps: Stalag Luft III (Sagan), 14.8.1943-27.1.1945; during his internment here he was part of ‘X’ Organization and ‘helped in map making Dept. and on tunnels but was unsuccessful in draw to get out’, and luckily for him was not one of the 76 Allied Air Force Officers to make the ‘Great Escape’; Marlag (Tarmstett), 4.2.1945-10.4.1945 (M.I.9. Debrief refers).
After returning to England, post the Second World War, McCarthy-Jones joined the Auxiliary Air Force and resumed service with 504 Squadron, 24.4.1947-3.4.1949; transferred to 601 (County of London Squadron), 1.8.1949, Squadron Leader 15.1.1952; Commanding Officer, 601 Squadron, 15.1.1952-15.1.1956, during which time he led his Squadron to received the Standard from its Honorary Air Commodore, the Duke of Edinburgh, 23.7.1954; posted 7167 Reserve Flight, North Weald, 1956, Acting Wing Commander 1956-57; left the service 17.10.1958 and sadly died two years later of Polio in Lagos, Nigeria, where he is buried.
MCCARTHY-JONES, Christopher Cecil – Squadron Leader – Air Efficiency Award – awarded as per London Gazette dated 17 January 1952. Information from Spink auction catalogue of 20 July 2006.
MCCARTHY-JONES, Christopher Cecil – Squadron Leader – Air Force Cross – awarded as per London Gazette dated 1 January 1953. Information from Spink auction catalogue of 20 July 2006.
MCCARTHY, JONES, Christopher Cecil – Wing Commander – Officer, Order of the British Empire – awarded as per London Gazette dated 1 January 1957. Information from Spink auction catalogue of 20 July 2006.
Wing Commander Christopher Cecil McCarthy-Jones, O.B.E., A.F.C. (1916-60), born Bushey-Hertfordshire; educated at Watford Grammar School 1925-30 and Oundle 1930-35; Sergeant Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, 15.9.1938; Pilot Officer 24.12.1939; served with 13 Squadron (Lysanders), Odiham, 21.3.1940-25.7.1940; Flying Officer 24.12.1940; Flight Lieutenant 24.12.1941; posted 19 Squadron (Spitfire Vb’s, Perranporth, 18.8.1942; posted as Flight Commander 504 (County of Nottingham) Squadron (Spitfire Vb’s), Middle Wallop and Ibsley; mainly flew sweeps, local patrols and escorts with the Squadron until 26.7.1943, when piloting Spitfire Vb BM145 as an escort to Bostons against Lille, he was shot down by an enemy fighter, receiving a wound to his head, and was made a prisoner of war near Countrai, Belgium; McCarthy-Jones was taken blindfold and interrogated at Roubaix; he recuperated in the Prince Albert Hospital near Lille, 26.7.1943-5 8.1943, before being imprisoned in the following camps: Stalag Luft III (Sagan), 14.8.1943-27.1.1945; during his internment here he was part of ‘X’ Organization and ‘helped in map making Dept. and on tunnels but was unsuccessful in draw to get out’, and luckily for him was not one of the 76 Allied Air Force Officers to make the ‘Great Escape’; Marlag (Tarmstett), 4.2.1945-10.4.1945 (M.I.9. Debrief refers).
After returning to England, post the Second World War, McCarthy-Jones joined the Auxiliary Air Force and resumed service with 504 Squadron, 24.4.1947-3.4.1949; transferred to 601 (County of London Squadron), 1.8.1949, Squadron Leader 15.1.1952; Commanding Officer, 601 Squadron, 15.1.1952-15.1.1956, during which time he led his Squadron to received the Standard from its Honorary Air Commodore, the Duke of Edinburgh, 23.7.1954; posted 7167 Reserve Flight, North Weald, 1956, Acting Wing Commander 1956-57; left the service 17.10.1958 and sadly died two years later of Polio in Lagos, Nigeria, where he is buried.