David Case
RAF officer
Air Commodore David Case is the highest ranking black officer in the Royal Air Force of the United Kingdom, and as of 2000, at the age of 47, he became the highest ranking black officer ever to serve in Britain's armed forces.
He was born in Guyana, and immigrated to Britain at the age of 5. He was educated at Beckenham Grammar School and learnt to fly on a Flying Scholarship while still at school. He joined the RAF as a 19-year old cadet to read aeronautical engineering at The Queen's University of Belfast. He received his commission in 1975, and was awarded the distinguished Sword of Honour, which is bestowed upon the top cadet officer of the year.