South Kesteven District Council is commemorating October’s Black History Month by recognising the contribution of black servicemen serving locally with American forces and the RAF during WWll.
In 1944 all major airfields around Grantham – North Witham, Barkston Heath, Fulbeck, Folkingham and Saltby – were occupied by aircraft and troops of the United States Army Air Force (USAAF) Troop Carrier Command.
Black soldiers were essential operational support for the USAAF troop transport aircrew involved in the uplift of thousands of airborne troops and tonnes of equipment to Europe that year – including the military milestones of D Day and Arnhem.
Black aircrew also enlisted with the RAF, including Bomber Command, whose heavy presence in the county led to Lincolnshire being recognised as ‘Bomber County’.
Cllr Rhea Rayside, SKDC Cabinet Member Communities and People, said; “We continue to pay tribute to this District’s military heritage. That history is not complete, however, without recognising the role of the black servicemen who came to the UK to fight alongside our forces in a time of desperate need.
“Black History Month is an opportunity to acknowledge and express our pride in the huge role that allies of every nationality and ethnicity played in winning the war. Our developing airborne forces trail will help to perpetuate that commemoration.”
Cllr Richard Dixon-Warren, SKDC Armed Forces Champion said: “We must never forget the contribution made by black men and women from the Commonwealth and our Allies who came to our aid in a shared cause.”
Bomber Command, whose history is enshrined in the International Bomber Command Centre (IBCC) at Lincoln, recorded a total of 550 aircrew and 6,000 ground crew of African origin.
The IBCC has well documented stories of men from British colonies who volunteered to serve.
Their Digital Archive has interviewed the sons of three West African fliers who served with distinction in RAF Bomber Command: Eddy Smythe on his father, John Henry Smythe; Olu Hyde on his father, Adesanya Hyde, and Neville Shenbanjo on his father, Akin Shenbanjo.
IBCC links include Mark Johnson talking about his Jamaican great-uncle, John Jellicoe Blair, a navigator on Halifax aircraft.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gqqXqJ17gVk&feature=emb_title
https://ibccdigitalarchive.blogs.lincoln.ac.uk/2017/10/24/african-airmen-in-raf-bomber-command/
The RAF Museum has an online exhibition
https://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/research/online-exhibitions/pilots-of-the-caribbean.aspx
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