Philip Louis Ulric Cross DSO DFC (1 May 1917 – 4 October 2013) was a Trinidadian jurist, diplomat and Royal Air Force (RAF) navigator, recognised as possibly the most decorated West Indian of World War II.

[3] He subsequently studied law at London's Middle Temple, and went on to fulfil a distinguished international career as a jurist across Africa and within Trinidad and Tobago.

[5] At the age of 11, he came first in Trinidad's Government Exhibition Scholarship Examination, thus qualifying for five years of free secondary education,[5] and went on to attend St Mary's College.

[9] In 1941, aged 24, Cross left Trinidad to join Britain's Royal Air Force (RAF) – being "young, adventurous and idealistic".

Cross flew 80 missions over Germany and occupied Europe as navigator of a Mosquito fighter-bomber,[9][13][14] and was the model for the black character, Squadron Leader Charles Ford, in Ken Follett's novel Hornet Flight.

"[22] In the United Kingdom, from 1990 to 1993, Cross served as High Commissioner for Trinidad and Tobago at the Court of St James's, UK, combining the position with that of Ambassador to both Germany and France.

[4] During his final return to Trinidad and Tobago, Cross in April 1993 co-founded – with his colleague, Desmond Allum SC – the charitable non-profit organization called the Cotton Tree Foundation (CTF),[23] that still today works with some of the most deprived communities in Port-of-Spain in order to combat high levels of poverty and unemployment through counselling, self-help, education and training projects.

[24] During these years also, as Squadron Leader Cross, he served as president of the Royal Air Forces Association Trinidad and Tobago Branch No.

Directed by Frances-Anne Solomon[34][35] and entitled Hero: Inspired by the Extraordinary Life and Times of Mr. Ulric Cross, it was first released in 2019.

[41][42] Ulric Cross died, aged 96, on 4 October 2013 at his home on Dere Street, Port of Spain, where, in his retirement, he lived with his daughter Nicola.

"[46] On 8 February 2014, a tribute to Cross was held in London by the Trinidad and Tobago High Commission at St Peter's Church, Eaton Square,[47] where the High Commissioner, His Excellency Garvin Nicholas spoke, saying: "Justice Ulric Cross was a man who not only served Trinidad and Tobago tirelessly, but dedicated his existence to the preservation of justice and democracy on an international scale ... His was a distinguished life, a life very well lived.