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Re: German-born pilots with the RAF
From my experience with Danish airmen the notion "xxx-born" is a bit difficult.
For instance I have a Danish R.A.F. fighter pilot born in Northern Schleswig in 1913. The area, formerly part of the (Kingdom of) Denmark was lost following the Danish defeat in the Second War of Schleswig.
Hence, the pilot was actually born in the then part of the German Empire (from 1918 the Free State of Prussia). Following the German defeat in 1918 the area was reunited with Denmark following a referendum on 15 June 1920.
The family was part of the Danish ethnic population in a German rules Northern Schleswig until 1920 (75 pct. of the population voted in favour of unification in this area). I consider this man Danish born, while he was actually born on in (what was then) Germany.
In another case, I have a later lead bomber pilot on D-day born in 1916 on the then Danish Virgin Islands. The islands were sold to the US on 31 March 1917 and the inhabitants became US citizens. I consider this man Danish born, while not Danish during his later wartime service.
Regards
Mikkel
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