Wing Cdr George Douglas Blackwood, publisher; born October 11, 1909, died March 2, 1997
SHY and retiring by nature, Douglas Blackwood represented the fifth generation of one of Edinburgh's great publishing dynasties, William Blackwood & Sons. Although it was always ordained he would eventually join the family firm, the early part of his career was devoted to the services. Throughout his life he retained the quiet dignity you so often find in military men.
Educated at Eton, then Cambridge University, Blackwood joined the RAF in 1932, flying with the City of London fighter squadron on a short commission which ended in 1938. It was during this time, in 1936, that he met and married Phyllis, daughter of Sir John Caulcutt, KCMG. They had a son, Michael, and daughter, Maureen.
Re-enlisting with the airforce in 1939, Blackwood was involved with the air defence of Britain from the start of the war. At the height of the Battle of Britain in 1940 he could recall being in his fighter plane over St Paul's Cathedral in London and realising that the London offices of Blackwood & Sons, in Paternoster Row below him, had taken a direct hit. Millions of books were destroyed. On another occasion his Hurricane was shot down over Essex but he was able to parachute to safety.
Having been made Station Commander of RAF Duxford, Douglas commanded the Czech Fighter Wing in the 2nd Tactical Air Force, made up of a group of Czech pilots who had taken refuge in Britain. For this he was decorated with the Czech War Cross, Czech Military Medal and as recently as 1993, was awarded the Czech Medal of George of Podebrad.
In 1948, at the age of 39, Douglas returned home to Edinburgh to take over the running of the family business from his father and uncle. As chairman, he also succeeded his father as editor of Blackwood's Magazine, for generations of Scots the forum for new literary talent. Many of the great writers of this century and last, Ian Hay, John Buchan, Neil Munro, E.M. Forster and Nevil Shute, were launched through their contributions.
But reading patterns were changing and ''Maga'', finally ceased publication in 1980. Douglas Blackwood retired three years later and handed over the management of the company to his son Michael, himself a former naval pilot.
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