{"product_id":"a-member-of-the-raf-of-indeterminate-race-cy-grant-2006-1st-ed-pb","title":"A Member of The RAF of Indeterminate Race: Cy Grant 2006 1st Ed PB","description":"\u003cp\u003eAuthor: Cy Grant\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003ePublisher: Woodfield Publishing\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003ePagination: 136\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eFormat: Paperback\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eCondition: Fine.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e1st Edition.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAnyone old enough to recall the innovative BBCtv programme `The Tonight Show', broadcast in the late 50s and early 60s, will remember Cy Grant, whose regular appearances on the show made him the first black entertainer to have a regular spot on British television.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWhat television viewers were unaware of, however, is that in addition to his career as an entertainer, Cy had been one of a small number of West Indians to qualify as aircrew officers and fly with the RAF during World War Two.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eCy, originally from British Guiana, travelled to England to join the RAF in 1941 and, after undergoing flying training and qualifying as a navigator, was posted in 1943 to No.103 Squadron, based at RAF Elsham Wolds in Lincolnshire, as one of the seven-man crew of an Avro Lancaster bomber.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eCy's flying days were short-lived, however ~ he and his Canadian\/British crewmates were shot down over Holland in 1943, on only their third mission. Two were killed and the rest became prisoners of war.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eA member of the RAF of indeterminate race is the translation of a sardonic caption that appeared under Cy's photograph in a German newspaper shortly after his capture by the SS ~ evidently sneering at the deployment of coloured aircrew by the RAF.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eFor Cy, who is quick to affirm that he experienced no racial discrimination from any of his RAF comrades, it was a timely reminder of what he was fighting for.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWhat followed for Cy was an uncomfortable two-year period as a prisoner of war ~ spent mostly at Stalag Luft 3, Sagan ~ a gruelling ordeal made bearable by the good-natured companionship of his fellow POWs. As the war neared its end, he and his comrades faced a final test ~ a succession of fatiguing route marches in freezing conditions ~ intended to delay their liberation by the advancing Allied armies. They were eventually freed by the Americans in 1945.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eCy's memories of his eventful RAF years ~ narrated with modesty, charm and good humour - make for compelling and educational reading.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Military History Books","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":67670602744107,"sku":"17834","price":15.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1022\/1289\/5019\/files\/a-member-of-the-raf-of-indeterminate-race-cy-grant-2006-1st-ed-pb_17834_main_original.jpg?v=1791253367","url":"https:\/\/militaryhistorybooks.com\/products\/a-member-of-the-raf-of-indeterminate-race-cy-grant-2006-1st-ed-pb","provider":"Military History Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}