West Indian aircrew WWII
 

Hi guys

I am compiling details regarding black West Indian aircrew and wonder if anyone can add to these basics?

Sqn Ldr Ulric Cross DSO DFC+ (Bomber Command navigator)
Owen Sylvester DFM (Bomber Command)
L.O. Lynch (Air Gunner BC)
Billy Strachan (BC pilot)
Ivor De Souza (served with RAAF squadron)
Vincent Bunting (fighter pilot)
Julian Marryshow (193 Squadron Typhoons)
A.O. Weekes (fighter pilor?)
E.A. Joseph (fighter pilot?)

There were probably others, as well as black Africans who flew with the RAF/Commonwealth.

Looking forward to a flood of information!!

Cheers
Brian

Re: West Indian aircrew WWII
 

Just by doing a Google search, it appears that A.O. Weekes (fighter pilor?)
E.A. Joseph (fighter pilot?) flew with 132 Sq (Spitfires)

Re: West Indian aircrew WWII
 

Many thanks Kaki - that's a start.

Cheers
Brian

Re: West Indian aircrew WWII
 

Hi Brian,

Re: West Indian aircrew WWII
 

Lynch was a RG with 102 Sqn and the subject of a TV programme about a year or so ago; I have a photo of him

Re: West Indian aircrew WWII
 

Here's a link to a combat report by Bunting:

http://www.wewerethere.mod.uk/popup/814b.html

Re: West Indian aircrew WWII
 

Thanks guys - great stuff.

I note that more than 300 West Indians flew as aircrew with 90 decorations being awarded, including seven DSOs and 64 DFCs. I gather that many of these were 'white' West Indians whereas my specific interest is in 'black' West Indians.

Cheers
Brian

Re: West Indian aircrew WWII
 

Hi guys

More names that have come to prominence. Information would be appreciated.


Errol Walton BARROW (45 missions) First president of Barbados
Bruce F.H. MILLER DFC 103 Sqn navigator
Arthur Adolphus WALROND 15 Sqn WOp/AG KiA 29/6/43
Grey Doyle CUMBERBATCH 100 Sqn KiA 5/3/43

Arthur FLYNN KiA 1944
John ACTIE Coastal Command Ferdinand FARFAN fighter pilot 601 Sqn (but not sure if 'black')

Cheers
Brian

Re: West Indian aircrew WWII
 

There was an interesting article on blacks in the RAF in WW2 in International History Review a few years ago (I think...this is the schiolarly journal done at Simon Fraser University in BC). Included a story about an Ashanti fighter pilot who used to identfy himself for the benefit of the German Y-Service when over the continent.

The Eighth Passenger is a memoir by a member of a Lancaster crew that included a Jamaican rear gunner. I seem to recall that, some years ago, Ontario had a black lieutenant governor appointed who had been an RCAF Lancaster rear gunner.

Re: West Indian aircrew WWII
 

Hi David

Thanks for the information. Is there any chance you can be more specific re the International History Review - how can I obtain a copy of the relevant issue? Is the 'Eighth Passenger' a book? And who was the black lieutenant-governor of Ontario you mention?

Cheers
Brian

Re: West Indian aircrew WWII
 

Try your local reference library to see which libraries hold International History Review. Many scholarly journals now have pay-for on0line references. A local university library may be available to help.

I recall the article makes a point that race relations in the RAF were way better than in the British Army in WW2. This is something everyone in wartime Britain lnew, but I could not find a citable source for this when I was helping out Lon Nordeen with his excellent history of the Egyptian Air Force back in the early 90s.

The Eighth Passenger is an often-reprinted RAF wartime memoir. Forget the name of the Ontario Lt. Governnor (first name Lincoln?) but this should be finable on-line.

Add to your list E. Seaga, prime minister on Jamaica in the 70s. He was another example of pilots of single-engine military aircraft having problems running a country. He flew Spitfires late war, but I believe never saw combat.

There was also a West Indian sergeant-pilot who flew off a Spitfire from a carrier to Malta. He is briefly mentioned in, I believe, One Man's Window but should receive more detailed treatment in the standard sources such as Malta: The Spitfire Year.

Re: West Indian aircrew WWII
 

Hi David

I am one of the authors of 'Malta: The Spitfire Year' and the author of 'Spitfires over Malta'! Yes, Ferdinand Farfan was from the West Indies but from photographs I have seen would appear to have been a 'white' West Indian.

I will follow up the other leads you have given me. Many thanks.

Cheers
Brian

PS: I have just had a quick trawl on Google following your leads, with the following results: Edward Seaga was born in 1930, so would not have made WWII. However, the Ontario Lieutenant-Governor was Lincoln MacCauley ALEXANDER, who did serve in the RCAF. Many thanks.

PPS: I have been given to understand that 'The Eighth Passenger' is fiction! Can anyone confirm?

Cheers
Brian

Re: West Indian aircrew WWII
 

I think it was Michael Manley who was the Jamaican politican I meant.

Sorry.

Re: West Indian aircrew WWII
 

Brian, the 8th Passenger is non-fiction and an excellent read as well. It might come in useful as the author (Miles Tripp) tracks down his crew after the war and interviews them about their experiences. There is a picture of the crew in Frederick Taylor's book 'Dresden'.

Re: West Indian aircrew WWII
 

Thanks Ruxpin

I have now ordered a copy.

Cheers
Brian

Re: West Indian aircrew WWII
 

A photo on page 55 of 'Halifax Special' by Bruce Robertson - Ian Allen Ltd ISBN 0 7110 1920 7 - dated 1990 - shows a photo of Halifax LW648 of 76 Sqn with crew sitting on top - one of which is their Nigerian Wireless Op. The plane was called 'The Black Prince' in his honour, as well as having the name Achtung as it was MP-A.

Sadly the Prince is not named - though the ORB may name him.

Re: West Indian aircrew WWII
 

Many thanks for that Larry - I will check ORB etc.

Cheers
Brian

Re: West Indian aircrew WWII
 

Brian,

There is a picture of F/O Karl Aiken from Jamaica a member of the 107 Sqn in 1944 in the book The Reich Intruders by Bowman, page 149.

Regards,
Michal

Re: West Indian aircrew WWII
 

Sgt Britto, from Jamaica, killed 2 Jan 43, 52 OTU, Aston Down, flying Spit I AR220.

source: 52 OTU OEG quoted in Angus Mansfield, Barney Barnfather, Life on a Spifire Squadron (Stroud: History Press, 2010), p. 84

Re: West Indian aircrew WWII
 

It was Spitfire AR240: "Stalled on approach and crash-landed, Aston Down".

John E.

Re: West Indian aircrew WWII
 

Jamaican Howard Kelsick, Typhoon Pilot with 175 Squadron.

Front row centre left.

PeterA

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...ronB5o2jpg.jpg

Re: West Indian aircrew WWII
 

These are a good sites to use:

http://www.caribbeanaircrew-ww2.com/

http://caribbeanrollofhonour-ww1-ww2.yolasite.com/

I came across them whilst researching the Allied raid on Frankfurt am Main 22nd March 1944.

From Dominica, Flying Officer Harold Cherberd BRYANT (143598), RAFVR 514 Squadron was awarded the DFC for his actions.
http://caribbeanrollofhonour-ww1-ww2...ant_HC_DFC.pdf

The event sounds like an incendiary was accidentally drop on them over the target.:eek:

Hope that helps.
C.T.