West Indian aircrew WWII

[DavidIsby]

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.

[Brian]

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

[DavidIsby]

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

Sorry.

[ruxpin35]

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'.

[Brian]

Thanks Ruxpin

I have now ordered a copy.

Cheers
Brian

[Larry]

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.

[Brian]

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

Cheers
Brian

[Fairlop]

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

[DavidIsby]

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

[JohnE]

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

John E.