Emanuel Peter John Adeniyi Thomas

Flight Lieutenant Emanuel Peter John Adeniyi Thomas (1914 – 12 January 1945) was a Nigerian born Royal Air Force (RAF) officer and first West African to be granted a commission in the RAF.

He attended King's College, Lagos and worked for his father before joining the Labour Department of the Nigerian Government.

Thomas was inspired to join the Royal Air Force (RAF) after reading about The Battle of Britain.

[3] Writing about his partial inspiration to join the RAF, Thomas noted: "My great-grandfather was a chieftain.

[4] In his spare time he helped the Colonial Office by welcoming visiting West African students to London.