Capt James Blackmore RN

James joined the Royal Navy in 1996. On completion of fixed wing flying training he joined 800 Naval Air Squadron in 2001 at RNAS YEOVILTON flying the Sea Harrier FA2 embarked in HMS ARK ROYAL.

In 2008 Blackmore joined Joint Force Harrier and served on 1(F) Squadron and IV(AC) as Officer Commanding ‘A’ Flight.  He flew 50 day and night combat sorties in support of Operation Herrick 9 & 10 from Kandahar, took part in 2 Red Flag Exercises in the US and spent further time embarked in HMS ARK ROYAL and HMS INVINCIBLE.  In 2010 he flew the last ever Harrier sortie from a UK aircraft carrier.Promoted to Commander in 2014, James undertook an exchange tour with the United States Navy flying the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet where he deployed onboard the USS RONALD REAGAN operating in the Pacific.

In 2015 James served at RNAS CULDROSE commanding the Royal Navy Fixed Wing Force before he joined HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH in 2018 as Commander Air delivering Rotary and F-35B Development Test qualifying 11 aircraft types to the deck during the inaugural WESTLANT 18 deployment.  On promotion to Captain James was appointed as the Carrier Air Wing Commander “CAG" to the UK Carrier Strike Group in 2019 where he Commanded the Carrier Air Wing on Op FORTIS as part of the inaugural CSG-21 deployment. As a maritime strike fighter pilot James has amassed over 2500 hours across 3 frontline maritime combat aircraft, serving in 7 aircraft carriers; in 2022 James takes up an appointment in the Ministry of Defence. He is married to Rachel, a retired Junglie pilot and they have two daughters.  James has a keen interest in fly fishing and mountaineering and is grateful to be a member of both the Martin Baker and Caterpillar Clubs.