A little known but somewhat controversial figure in aviation and military history, James Peck claims to have been the first African American to shoot down five aircraft in aerial combat during the Spanish Civil War – an event that occurred when the United States military did not even allow black Americans to fly, let alone participate in combat. Born in Pennsylvania in 1912, as a child Peck used to go and watch aircraft flying out of Leetsdale airfield near his house.[1] A good student his marks led to him attending the University of Pittsburgh but the flying bug got the better of him and...