James L. H. Peck (September 8, 1912 – May, 1996) was an American pilot who served in the Spanish Republican Air Force during the Spanish Civil War.
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Peck was one of the few African-American aviators in the Air Force of the Spanish Republic He was born in Stoops Ferry, Pennsylvania. Despite obtaining a commercial pilot's license and having done two years of University studies, Peck was turned down when he applied to join the U.S. Air Corps and Navy flying school.[1]
He went to Spain during the Civil War in 1936 and joined the Spanish Republican Air Force. Peck was credited with shooting down 5 planes, 2 Heinkel He-51s from the Legion Condor and 3 Fiat CR.32 Aviazione Legionaria fighters. But there are sources claiming that only one plane could be credited as probably shot down by him.[2] While in Spain, Peck became a friend of Ernest Hemingway.[3]
Peck left Spain when the International Brigades and all foreign fighters were ordered to withdraw from the Republican side of the Spanish Civil War by the Non-Intervention Committee. He returned to the United States.
On returning to the US, Peck attempted to join the various US military services but was refused do to his involvement in the Spanish Civil War. And instead joined the US Merchant Marine as an officer. During World War Two, Peck authored many articles on warfare technology. One publication Peck wrote extensively for was Popular Science a well known monthly. And in late 1945, the editors of Popular Science in an act of journalistic bravery, printed an extensive and detailed article by Peck explaining how radar worked,[4] but also on the contents page had his photo in a prominent placement on that page and also included short bio on Peck, so that the long time readers of Popular Science, knew at last that the author whose articles they were impressed by was an African-American.[5]
James Peck died in May 1996 in San Diego, California.