§ Major Wilkesasked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether he is aware that a lady visitor to two West Indian 403W airmen during visiting hours at the sick quarters of the R.A.F. station Tangmere, West Hampnett, was ordered to leave the ward immediately, as instructions had been left by the medical officer that only Servicemen were to visit West Indian patients; that he personally informed her that her visit to coloured airmen lowered white prestige and that he disapproved of coloured patients, many of whom were suffering from infectious diseases through association with white women; that this has caused grave discontent among West Indian personnel at this camp; and whether he will investigate this case and prevent any repetition.
§ Mr. StracheyAny question of racial discrimination involving members of the Royal Air Force would be a matter of serious concern to the Air Council, and my Noble Friend and I have given this case our most careful consideration. It appears that a young girl visited the station sick quarters on three successive days. On the third occasion she was asked to leave on the instructions of the medical officer. The medical officer has stated that he took this action because the previous visits had been the subject of complaint by other patients, as one of the airmen concerned was serving part of a period of detention in the sick quarters. He also stated that the airman, who was suffering from a minor ailment—" a cold only—was due to leave the ward in a day or so.
Later the girl came to see the medical officer, who gave reasons for his order and added his personal opinion on associations between men and women of a different colour. In doing so he undoubtedly exceeded his duty, and he has since apologised to her. I repeat that racial discrimination will not be tolerated in the Royal Air Force—a West Indian officer of the R.A.F. has visited the station since the incident and reports that this is generally appreciated by the West Indian airmen there.