James Peck

James Lincoln Holt Peck (September 8, 1912 – May 1996) was an American pilot who served in the Spanish Republican Air Force during the Spanish Civil War. Biography 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. He went to Spain during the Civil War in 1936 and joined the Spanish Republican Air Force, eventually earning rank of the first lieutenant. Peck was credited with shooting down 5 aircraft, 2 Heinkel He-51s from the Legion Condor and 3 Fiat CR.32 Aviazione Legionaria fighters, becoming one of three American aces in Spain, having also made friendship with Ernest Hemingway while there. 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.