Biography
Air Marshal G.A. ‘Black’ Robertson CBE BA FRAeS FRSA was born in Woodford, Essex, and educated nearby at Bancroft’s School. He earned his wings, the coveted pilot’s brevet, in 1966 after three years at the RAF College Cranwell. Subsequent postings included Bahrain, the USA, Germany and the Falklands. He flew all the RAF’s front line fast jets and also qualified as a helicopter pilot. Five tours as a Whitehall warrior were probably necessary penance for the privilege of command at almost every level.
Sheer enjoyment, sport, a love of flying and working with high calibre individuals were constants throughout a 36-year career. Highlights were his time as CO of No 92 Squadron, followed by appointment as an ADC to HM The Queen. In 1999 he joined BAE Systems and later ran his own consultancy business; he now devotes his time to writing and lecturing .
His first book, Fighters in the Blood, was published in 2020. Realising he’d done his father, a decorated Spitfire ace, less than justice, he embarked on a prequel: A Spitfire Named Connie was released in 2022. He followed this a year later with From Spitfires to Vampires and Beyond, the edited story of New Zealander Wing Commander Owen Hardy DFC* AFC. Then came Flying Through the Ranks, a collection of stories published in 2024. His most recent book, The Shy Assassin, the biography of Spitfire ace and D-Day Mosquito pilot Wing Commander Cyril Babbage DFM AE, was released in September 2025. He’s now working on the 80-year tale of a globetrotting Spitfire; it’s due for publication summer 2026.
In 2022 he became an ambassador for the National Spitfire Project, which aims to erect a permanent monument to this iconic aircraft on the Southampton waterfront. There’s more about it here.
