Mark Johnson examines the service of black aircrew from the Caribbean and West Africa as well as the contribution made by an additional 4,000 Caribbean ground crew.

This free lecture is part of the RAF Museum's Research Lecture Programme. If you would like to support the RAF Museum, you can make a donation at: https://support.rafmuseum.org/Donate-Now

From the opening salvos to the final battles, black aircrew from the Caribbean and West Africa served in combat over Europe as members of the Royal Air Force. They came in their hundreds and flew as fighter pilots, bomber pilots, navigators and air gunners.

Almost third of these volunteers were killed in action. Several were shot down over enemy territory and survived the war in Stalag Luft prison camps, until they were liberated by the Soviet Red Army. They were awarded DFCs and DFMs. Many achieved officer rank.

This talk describes the courage and self-sacrifice displayed by these fliers, as well as the essential contribution made by an additional 4,000 Caribbean ground crew, male and female, all of whom were committed to the defence of their distant homelands against the looming threat of Nazi tyranny, should Hitler defeat Great Britain.

Born in London, with a Jamaican father and Dutch-Scottish mother, Mark Johnson is a former military officer who has operational experience of the 1980s dirty wars against the drug cartels in the Caribbean and Central America.

Mark's Jamaican great-uncle, Flight Lt John J. Blair, DFC, served a full tour over Europe between 1944 and 1945, before being transferred to the elite Pathfinder Force.

Mark speaks passionately and eloquently about this period of history. His research centres on the many interviews he recorded with his great-uncle, and with other Caribbean volunteers.

The full story is told in his book, Caribbean Volunteers at War, which will be released as a paperback edition by Pen & Sword on 21 April 2021. https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/Caribbean-Volunteers-at-War-Paperback/p/18959

Black Eagles: The RAF’s Caribbean and West African aircrew volunteers during the Second World War.