Conditions Governing Reproduction and Use

The copyright status of this collection is unknown. Copyright restrictions may apply. Contact Special Collections and University Archives for assistance in determining the use of these materials.

Reproduction or digitization of materials for personal or research use can be requested using our reproduction/digitization form: http://bit.ly/scuareproduction . Reproduction or digitization of materials for publication or exhibit use can be requested using our publication/exhibition form: http://bit.ly/scuapublication . Please contact Special Collections and University Archives (specref@vt.edu or 540-231-6308) if you need assistance with forms or to submit a completed form.

Conditions Governing Access

The collection is open for research.

Preferred Citation

Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: [identification of item], [box], [folder], George William Christopher Papers, Ms1991-031, Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Va.

Source of Acquisition

The George William Christopher Papers were donated to Special Collections and University Archives in 1991.

Processing Information

The processing, arrangement, and description of the George William Christopher Papers was completed in September 2013.

Biographical Note

George William Christopher (1908-2002) was born to Van B. and Laura Gilliland Christopher in Texhoma, Oklahoma, on September 17, 1908. The younger Christopher later moved with his family to southern Kansas and the Texas panhandle, where he worked variously as a fireman, mechanic, and electrician.

In 1933, Christopher purchased a Waco 10 biplane, and the following year, he became a professional flight instructor. Through the 1930s, Christopher continued work as a flight instructor and also barnstormed throughout the area. During World War II, he instructed air cadets at Love Field (Dallas, Texas) before joining the Civil Aeronautics Administration (CAA) in Santa Monica, California, as an engineering test pilot, then went on active duty as a reserve officer with the Army Air Forces. From 1947 until his retirement, Christopher served as a regular officer in the U.S. Air Force. He was awarded numerous medals and honors, including the Distinguished Flying Cross during the Korean War, the Air Medal, and the Air Force Commendation Medal while serving with Allied Air Forces, Southern Europe, a NATO command in Naples, Italy.

In 1941, Christopher married Geneva Weatherspoon (1907-1994), and the couple had one child. Following Christopher's retirement from the U. S. Air Force as a lieutenant colonel, the Christophers lived in El Paso, Texas. George William Christopher died on April 22, 2002 and was buried at Fort Bliss National Cemetery, Texas.

Scope and Content

This collection contains the papers of George William Christopher, a pilot who worked as a flight instructor and barnstormer in the Texas panhandle region in the 1930s, then served with the U. S. Air Force during World War II and the post-war period. The collection includes a copy of Christopher's autobiographical memoir Pioneer Pilot from the Texas Panhandle: Stories from a Flier's Life . The collection also contains an outline for an article proposed by Christopher for American Aviation Historical Society Journal , to be titled "Flying in the Thirties in Texas," and a newspaper clipping about Christopher receiving the Air Force Commendation Medal.

Separated Material

A second copy of Christopher's memoir was separated to the Rare Book Collection.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

• Air pilots
• Archives of American Aerospace Exploration (AAAE)
• Science and Technology

Rights Statement for Archival Description

The guide to the George William Christopher Papers by Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech, is licensed under a CC0 ( https://creativecommons.org/share-your-work/public-domain/cc0/ ).