Douglas Blackwood facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
George Douglas Morant Blackwood
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| Birth name | George Douglas Morant Blackwood |
| Born | 11 October 1909 |
| Died | 2 March 1997 (aged 87) Edinburgh |
| Allegiance |  United Kingdom |
| Service/ |
 Royal Air Force |
| Years of service | 1939 – 1945 |
| Rank | Wing commander |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
| Awards |
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| Other work | Publishing |
George Douglas Morant Blackwood (11 October 1909 – 2 March 1997) was a British publisher. He was also a brave fighter pilot in the Royal Air Force during World War II.
Contents
Early Life and Family Business
Douglas Blackwood came from a family of publishers. His great-great-grandfather, William Blackwood, started a famous publishing company. It was called William Blackwood & Sons. They also published a magazine called Blackwood's Magazine.
Douglas went to schools like St Cyprian's School and Eton. After school, he was expected to join the family business. But he was also very interested in flying! He joined the RAF for a few years before World War II began.
A Hero in the RAF
Douglas Blackwood rejoined the RAF in 1939. He was a very skilled fighter pilot. He even led a Czech fighter squadron, No. 310 Squadron RAF, during the famous Battle of Britain. This was a huge air battle over Britain in 1940.
In August 1940, during the Battle of Britain, his plane was hit. He had to parachute out over Clacton to safety. One morning, after a night of heavy German bombing in London, he was on patrol. From his plane high in the sky, he could see thick smoke. It was coming from the fires that destroyed his family's business building in London.
Douglas Blackwood ended World War II as a wing commander. He was in charge of the Czech Fighter Wing. He received several awards for his bravery. These included the Czech War Cross and the Czech Military Medal. In 1993, he was also given the Czech Medal of George of Poděbrady.
Life as a Publisher
After the war ended in 1945, Blackwood left the RAF. He found the family publishing business in a difficult situation. Bombing during the war had destroyed many books and their London office.
Before the war, William Blackwood & Sons was a top publisher in Britain. But after the war, things changed. Douglas Blackwood became the managing director of the company. He was also the editor of Blackwood's Magazine from 1948 to 1976.
The company faced new challenges. More and more rivals were mass-producing books. Also, fewer people were interested in monthly literary magazines. By the 1970s, the company and its magazine seemed old-fashioned. They struggled to attract younger writers and readers. It was quite an achievement that the magazine lasted until 1980.
Douglas Blackwood retired as editor in 1976. He was the last family member to edit the magazine. He remained chairman of the publishing house until 1983.
Later Life
Douglas Blackwood was a quiet person. Some people thought he seemed distant, but he was a kind man. He felt most comfortable around military people. He wasn't very interested in literary or political gatherings.
He lived in the Scottish Borders after retiring. He enjoyed outdoor activities like field sports. He passed away in Edinburgh.
Family Life
Douglas Blackwood married Phyllis Caulcutt in 1936. She was an expert horse rider. They had a son and a daughter. Their son, Michael, also became a pilot in the navy. He later joined the family business. By then, the company had joined with another firm to focus on printing.
