Green Leader

{{short description|Rhodesian military pilot}} {{Use dmy dates|date=March 2021}} {{Infobox military person |honorific_prefix = Sqn Ldr |name = Chris Dixon |honorific_suffix = D.C.D. |image = Chris Dixon mugshot.jpg |image_upright = |alt = |caption = |native_name = |native_name_lang = |birth_name = Christopher John Taylor Dixon |other_name = |nickname = "Green Leader" |birth_date = {{birth year|1943}} |birth_place = Shabani, Southern Rhodesia |death_date = {{death date and age|2011|10|21|1943|df=y}} |death_place = Harare, Zimbabwe |burial_place = |burial_label = |burial_coordinates =  |allegiance = Southern Rhodesia<br/>Rhodesia |branch = Rhodesian Air Force |branch_label = Branch |service_years = 1962–1979 |service_years_label = |rank = Squadron Leader |rank_label = |service_number = |unit = |commands = No. 5 Squadron |battles = {{tree list}} * Rhodesian Bush War ** Operation Gatling ** Operation Vanity {{tree list/end}} |battles_label = |awards = |memorials = |alma_mater = |spouse =  |children = |relations = |other_work = |signature = |signature_size = |signature_alt = |website =  |module = }} Squadron Leader '''Christopher John Taylor Dixon''' D.C.D. (1943 – 21 October 2011),<ref name=g>{{cite web |url=https://gazettes.africa/archive/zw/2012/zw-government-gazette-dated-2012-07-03-no-30.pdf |volume=XC, no. 30 |title=Zimbabwean Government Gazette |publisher=Government of Zimbabwe |page=29 |date=1 June 2012 |access-date=15 February 2021}}</ref><ref name=b /> also known by his callsign of '''Green Leader''', was a Rhodesian military pilot for the Rhodesian Air Force and was born in Shabani, Southern Rhodesia.<ref name=b>{{cite book |first=Beverley |last=Whyte |title=A Pride of Eagles |year=1976 |page=32 |publisher=Graham Publishing |isbn=0620237597}}</ref> He was best known for leading the Rhodesian Operation Gatling bombing raid over Zambia, which later became known as the "Green Leader Raid".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.sundaynews.co.zw/how-i-lost-my-leg-in-zambia/ |title=How I lost my leg in Zambia |work=Sunday News |date=8 September 2018 |access-date=15 February 2021}}</ref>

== Early life and career == Dixon was born in 1943 in Shabani, Southern Rhodesia. He was educated at Plumtree School.<ref name=b /> In 1962, Dixon joined the Royal Rhodesian Air Force in the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland and he passed his Pilot Training Course as an officer cadet.<ref name=wod>{{cite book |first=P. H. J. |last=Petter-Bowyer |title=Winds of Destruction |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=o1QP_DT7K0wC&dq=%22chris+dixon%22+green+leader&pg=PT1204 |publisher=Trafford |year=2003 |isbn=141201204X}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://rhodesianforces.org/PilotTrainingCoursesMed.htm |title=Pilot Training Courses of The Rhodesian Air Force up to 1980 |publisher=Rhodesian Army Association Museum |date= |access-date=15 February 2021}}</ref> By 1974, Dixon was serving as a flight lieutenant in No. 1 Squadron.<ref>{{cite book |first=Beryl |last=Salt |title=A Pride of Eagles |page=488 |year=2001 |publisher=Corvos-Day |isbn=0620237597}}</ref> He was later assigned to No. 5 Squadron and later became their squadron leader in 1977.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://rhodesianforces.org/No5Sqn.htm |title=No 5 Squadron, The Rhodesian Air Force |publisher=Rhodesian Army Association Museum |date= |access-date=15 February 2021}}</ref> As squadron leader, he gave endorsement to a proposal from Jack Malloch to restore a Mark 22 Supermarine Spitfire to flying condition after it had been mounted on a plinth outside New Sarum Air Force Station in Salisbury.<ref>{{cite book |first=Nick |last=Meikle |title=Malloch's Spitfire |year=2014 |page=94 |publisher=Casemate |isbn=978-1612002521}}</ref>

== Green Leader == In 1978, following the downing of the civilian Air Rhodesia Flight 825 by ZIPRA guerrillas, the Rhodesian Government planned retaliatory strikes against ZIPRA bases across the Rhodesian border in Zambia.<ref>{{cite book |title=The Rhodesian War: A Military History |last1=Moorcraft |first1=Paul L |author-link1=Paul Moorcraft |last2=McLaughlin |first2=Peter |author-link2=Peter McLaughlin |date= 2008 |orig-year=1982 |location=Barnsley |publisher=Pen and Sword Books |pages= 135–144 |isbn=978-1-84415-694-8 }}</ref> The attack, later codenamed ''Operation Gatling'', was to be led by Dixon. Upon crossing the border in his English Electric Canberra bomber,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/257794756/?terms=%22green%20leader%22%20rhodesia&match=1 |title=Slow Death of White Rhodesia |work=The Observer |via=Newspapers.com |url-access=subscription |date=17 June 1979 |access-date=15 February 2021}}</ref> he contacted the control tower at Lusaka Airport identifying himself as "Green Leader" informing them to contact the Zambian Air Force commander at Mumbwa. Dixon told the tower to communicate to the commander that he was temporarily taking control of Zambian airspace on behalf of the Rhodesian Air Force.<ref name=guard /> He clarified in the message that the reason was to attack "Rhodesian dissidents and not against Zambia" and stated Rhodesia had no quarrel with Zambia. He did, however, warn the Zambian authorities not to interfere and stated that the Rhodesians were orbiting Zambian airfields and had orders to shoot down any Zambian Air Force planes that attempted to take off.<ref name=guard /><ref>{{cite book |first=Paul |last=Moorcraft |title=Contact II |publisher=Sygma |page=24 |year=1981 |isbn=0868760064}}</ref> He also had civilian aircraft approaching Zambia put on hold.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/623592465/?terms=%22green%20leader%22%20rhodesia&match=1 |title=Black Africa now looks for payoff |work=The Charlotte Observer |via=Newspapers.com |url-access=subscription |date=26 December 1979 |access-date=15 February 2021}}</ref> He kept control until 10 minutes after the RhAF had completed their raid.<Ref name=guard /> After a Kenya Airways pilot complained about who had control of the airspace (to which Lusaka had responded "I think the Rhodesians do"), Dixon said that the airport could let civilian aircraft land.<ref name=guard>{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/259569405/?terms=%22green%20leader%22%20rhodesia&match=1 |title=Rhodesia releases air raid conversations |work=The Guardian |via=Newspapers.com |url-access=subscription |date=23 October 1978 |access-date=15 February 2021}}</ref>

The exchanges were broadcast on television and radio by the Rhodesian Broadcasting Corporation.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/247976864/?terms=%22green%20leader%22%20rhodesia&match=1 |title=Euphoria follows Rhodesian raids |work=The Oshkosh Northwestern |via=Newspapers.com |url-access=subscription |date=23 October 1978 |access-date=15 February 2021}}</ref> Dixon's role in the raid was commemorated in the song "Green Leader" by John Edmond as he was considered a hero in Rhodesia for his actions.<ref name=wod /><ref>{{cite book |first=Preller |last=Geldenhuys |title=Rhodesian Air Force Operations |pages=228–229 |publisher=Peysoft Publishing |year=2014 |isbn=978-0994115416}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |first=Preller |last=Geldenhuys |title=Rhodesian Air Force Operations: With Air Strike Log |publisher=Just Done Publishing |year=2007 |page=167 |isbn=9781920169619}}</ref> He later led the bombing raid against ZIPRA in ''Operation Vanity'' over Angola flying an English Electric Canberra bomber but almost had to abort participation due to a radio fault.<ref>{{cite book |first=Michael |last=Hamence |title=Canberra in Southern Africa Service |page=21 |publisher=Freeworld Publications |year=1998 |isbn=0958388040}}</ref> For his military successes, he was awarded the Defence Cross for Distinguished Service on 13 April 1979.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://rhodesianforces.org/RAFHonoursAwards.htm#Eight |title=Honours and Awards, Rhodesian Air Force |publisher=Rhodesian Army Association Museum |date= |access-date=15 February 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |first=Chris |last=Eason |title=The Rhodesia Medal Roll: Honours and Decorations of the Rhodesian Conflict 1970-1981 |page=46 |publisher=Jeppestown Press |year=2006 |isbn=0955393604}}</ref>

Following the end of his Rhodesian military service, Dixon remained in the newly reconstituted Zimbabwe until his death in 2011.<ref name=g />

== References == {{Reflist}}

Category:2011 deaths Category:Rhodesian Air Force personnel Category:Rhodesian military personnel of the Bush War Category:Alumni of Plumtree School Category:People from Zvishavane Category:1943 births Category:Bomber pilots