James Blackburn (RAF officer)
Encyclopedia
Wing Commander
James Blackburn DSO & Bar
, DFC & Bar
, DFC (US)
(1916–1993) was a Royal Air Force
officer who completed a record five tours of operations during World War II.
and was educated at Wellington College, Berkshire
, and Oxford University. Whilst at Oxford he joined the University Air Squadron, and was commissioned in to the Royal Air Force Reserve of Officers in 1936.
pilot with No. 57 Squadron
and then with No. 70 Squadron as a Flight Lieutenant
, later to be promoted to Squadron Leader
and then Wing Commander. Blackburn was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross
in November 1941, followed by a Bar
(second award of the medal), in September 1942.
Blackburn was posted to North Africa in May 1942 to take command of No. 104 Squadron
and remained in command of the squadron until August 1942.
On 12 September 1942, Blackburn was travelling aboard the RMS Laconia
when it was torpedoed 130 miles north-northeast of Ascension Island
, by the German submarine U-156. The events that followed became known as the Laconia incident
. Blackburn survived the sinking of the Laconia and was taken prisoner of war
, later to be imprisoned in Vichy
controlled Morocco
. In November 1942, Blackburn along with three other officers escaped and made their way to the American held lines in Morocco.
In October 1943, Blackburn was awarded the Distinguished Service Order
whilst in command of No. 148 Squadron
.
From March until July 1944, Blackburn commanded No. 227 Squadron
.
In December 1944, Blackburn was awarded a Bar to his DSO whilst commanding officer of No. 159 Squadron
, working for Force 136
, in recognition of his exemplary leadership during bombing and mine-laying missions. Blackburn was also awarded the American Distinguished Flying Cross
by the United States Air Force
, in recognition of the pioneering work that 159 Squadron carried out, extending the operational range of the Consolidated Liberator aircraft. Following his presentation with the medal, Blackburn held a party to celebrate at Firpos restaurant in Calcutta
Blackburn commanded No. 570 Squadron
from 15 December 1945 until 8 January 1946, and then No. 196 Squadron
until 16 March 1946.
Wing Commander (rank)
Wing commander is a commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many other Commonwealth countries...
James Blackburn DSO & Bar
Distinguished Service Order
The Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September...
, DFC & Bar
Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)
The Distinguished Flying Cross is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force and other services, and formerly to officers of other Commonwealth countries, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active operations against...
, DFC (US)
Distinguished Flying Cross (United States)
The Distinguished Flying Cross is a medal awarded to any officer or enlisted member of the United States armed forces who distinguishes himself or herself in support of operations by "heroism or extraordinary achievement while participating in an aerial flight, subsequent to November 11, 1918." The...
(1916–1993) was a Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
officer who completed a record five tours of operations during World War II.
Early life
Blackburn was born in 1916, in Acton, LondonActon, London
Acton is a district of west London, England, located in the London Borough of Ealing. It is situated west of Charing Cross.At the time of the 2001 census, Acton, comprising the wards of East Acton, Acton Central, South Acton and Southfield, had a population of 53,689 people...
and was educated at Wellington College, Berkshire
Wellington College, Berkshire
-Former pupils:Notable former pupils include historian P. J. Marshall, architect Sir Nicholas Grimshaw, impressionist Rory Bremner, Adolphus Cambridge, 1st Marquess of Cambridge, author Sebastian Faulks, language school pioneer John Haycraft, political journalist Robin Oakley, actor Sir Christopher...
, and Oxford University. Whilst at Oxford he joined the University Air Squadron, and was commissioned in to the Royal Air Force Reserve of Officers in 1936.
World War II
During World War II, Blackburn served first as a BlenheimBristol Blenheim
The Bristol Blenheim was a British light bomber aircraft designed and built by the Bristol Aeroplane Company that was used extensively in the early days of the Second World War. It was adapted as an interim long-range and night fighter, pending the availability of the Beaufighter...
pilot with No. 57 Squadron
No. 57 Squadron RAF
-History:57 Squadron of the Royal Flying Corps was formed on 8 June 1916 at Copmanthorpe, Yorkshire. In December 1916 the squadron was posted to France equipped with the FE2d. The squadron re-equipped with Airco DH4s in May 1917 and commenced long range bombing and reconnaissance operations near...
and then with No. 70 Squadron as a Flight Lieutenant
Flight Lieutenant
Flight lieutenant is a junior commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many Commonwealth countries. It ranks above flying officer and immediately below squadron leader. The name of the rank is the complete phrase; it is never shortened to "lieutenant"...
, later to be promoted to Squadron Leader
Squadron Leader
Squadron Leader is a commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence. It is also sometimes used as the English translation of an equivalent rank in countries which have a non-English air force-specific rank structure. In these...
and then Wing Commander. Blackburn was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross
Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)
The Distinguished Flying Cross is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force and other services, and formerly to officers of other Commonwealth countries, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active operations against...
in November 1941, followed by a Bar
Medal bar
A medal bar or medal clasp is a thin metal bar attached to the ribbon of a military decoration, civil decoration, or other medal. It is most commonly used to indicate the campaign or operation the recipient received the award for, and multiple bars on the same medal are used to indicate that the...
(second award of the medal), in September 1942.
Blackburn was posted to North Africa in May 1942 to take command of No. 104 Squadron
No. 104 Squadron RAF
No. 104 Squadron RAF was formed at Wyton on 4 September 1917 and was equipped with the DH 9. It then moved to Andover, prior to being posted to France in May 1918. The squadron later began re-equipping with the DH 10, however the armistice arrived before this was completed and the squadron returned...
and remained in command of the squadron until August 1942.
On 12 September 1942, Blackburn was travelling aboard the RMS Laconia
RMS Laconia (1921)
The second RMS Laconia was a Cunard ocean liner built by Swan, Hunter & Wigham Richardson as a successor to the Laconia of 1911 to 1917...
when it was torpedoed 130 miles north-northeast of Ascension Island
Ascension Island
Ascension Island is an isolated volcanic island in the equatorial waters of the South Atlantic Ocean, around from the coast of Africa and from the coast of South America, which is roughly midway between the horn of South America and Africa...
, by the German submarine U-156. The events that followed became known as the Laconia incident
Laconia incident
The Laconia incident was an abortive naval rescue attempt in the Atlantic Ocean during World War II. On 12 September 1942, , carrying some 80 civilians, 268 British Army soldiers, about 1,800 Italian prisoners of war, and 160 Polish soldiers , was struck and sunk by a torpedo from Kriegsmarine...
. Blackburn survived the sinking of the Laconia and was taken prisoner of war
Prisoner of war
A prisoner of war or enemy prisoner of war is a person, whether civilian or combatant, who is held in custody by an enemy power during or immediately after an armed conflict...
, later to be imprisoned in Vichy
Vichy
Vichy is a commune in the department of Allier in Auvergne in central France. It belongs to the historic province of Bourbonnais.It is known as a spa and resort town and was the de facto capital of Vichy France during the World War II Nazi German occupation from 1940 to 1944.The town's inhabitants...
controlled Morocco
Morocco
Morocco , officially the Kingdom of Morocco , is a country located in North Africa. It has a population of more than 32 million and an area of 710,850 km², and also primarily administers the disputed region of the Western Sahara...
. In November 1942, Blackburn along with three other officers escaped and made their way to the American held lines in Morocco.
In October 1943, Blackburn was awarded the Distinguished Service Order
Distinguished Service Order
The Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September...
whilst in command of No. 148 Squadron
No. 148 Squadron RAF
No. 148 Squadron of the Royal Air Force has been part of the RAF since World War I.-History:As No. 148 Squadron it was reformed as a special duties squadron and part of the Balkan Air Force in World War II. It dropped men and materiel behind enemy lines in the occupied countries such as...
.
From March until July 1944, Blackburn commanded No. 227 Squadron
No. 227 Squadron RAF
No. 227 Squadron RAF was a Royal Air Force Squadron that formed as bomber unit in World War I and World War II.-Formation and World War I:No...
.
In December 1944, Blackburn was awarded a Bar to his DSO whilst commanding officer of No. 159 Squadron
No. 159 Squadron RAF
No. 159 Squadron RAF was a Royal Air Force Squadron that was active as a Bomber, Mine-laying, Reconnaissance and Transport unit in World War II.-Formation in World War One:...
, working for Force 136
Force 136
Force 136 was the general cover name for a branch of the British World War II organization, the Special Operations Executive . The organisation was established to encourage and supply resistance movements in enemy-occupied territory, and occasionally mount clandestine sabotage operations...
, in recognition of his exemplary leadership during bombing and mine-laying missions. Blackburn was also awarded the American Distinguished Flying Cross
Distinguished Flying Cross (United States)
The Distinguished Flying Cross is a medal awarded to any officer or enlisted member of the United States armed forces who distinguishes himself or herself in support of operations by "heroism or extraordinary achievement while participating in an aerial flight, subsequent to November 11, 1918." The...
by the United States Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
, in recognition of the pioneering work that 159 Squadron carried out, extending the operational range of the Consolidated Liberator aircraft. Following his presentation with the medal, Blackburn held a party to celebrate at Firpos restaurant in Calcutta
Blackburn commanded No. 570 Squadron
No. 570 Squadron RAF
No. 570 Squadron RAF was a bomber unit active within No. 38 Group RAF as an airborne, bomber support and special operations squadron during World War II.-History:...
from 15 December 1945 until 8 January 1946, and then No. 196 Squadron
No. 196 Squadron RAF
No. 196 Squadron was a Royal Air Force squadron originally formed as a training unit during World War I. It was active during World War II in Nos. 3, 4 and 38 Group RAF...
until 16 March 1946.
External links
- http://www.unithistories.com/officers/RAF_officers_B01.html
- http://www.acseac.co.uk/forum/index.php?a=topic&t=70