Desmond J. Scott
| Desmond James Scott | |
|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | "Scottie" |
| Born |
11 September 1918 Ashburton, New Zealand |
| Died | 8 October 1997 (aged 79) |
| Allegiance | New Zealand United Kingdom |
| Service/branch |
Royal New Zealand Air Force (1940–46) Royal Air Force (1947–49) |
| Years of service | 1940–1949 |
| Rank | Group Captain |
| Commands held |
No. 123 (Typhoon) Wing (1944–45) RAF Hawkinge (1943–44) No. 486 Squadron RNZAF (1943) |
| Battles/wars | Second World War |
| Awards |
Distinguished Service Order Officer of the Order of the British Empire Distinguished Flying Cross & Bar Croix de guerre (France) Croix de guerre (Belgium) Commander of the Order of Orange-Nassau (Netherlands) |
Group Captain Desmond James Scott, DSO, OBE, DFC & Bar (11 September 1918 – 8 October 1997) was a New Zealand fighter pilot and flying ace of the Second World War. He gained his licence as a private pilot in 1939 and was automatically enlisted in the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) in September of that year. Arriving in Britain in September 1940, Scott was attached to the Royal Air Force and flew in operations over Europe, rising through the ranks to become the RNZAF's youngest group captain of the war.
Desmond Scott was born in Ashburton in the province of Canterbury, New Zealand on 11 September 1918. He was educated at Cathedral Grammar School in Christchurch, before becoming a salesman.
In the late 1930s, Scott joined the Territorial Army and became a trooper in the Canterbury Yeomanry Cavalry. After an encounter with a New Zealand Permanent Air Force Bristol F.2 Fighter, Scott decided to become a pilot, enlisting with a local flying club, where he learned to fly a de Havilland Gypsy Moth. After a total of six and a half hours of dual instruction, Scott flew solo. Each hour of instruction cost 30 shillings and Scott was:
...saved from my creditors by a stroke of good fortune. Just prior to Hitler's indiscretions, our government introduced a scheme in which successful applicants were given 40 hours flying at the taxpayer's [sic] expense. Much to my surprise my application was successful. About the same time as I completed my 40 hours, England declared war on Germany. I promptly received a registered letter from our Air Department reminding me of a small clause at the bottom of our contract. Thus I was compelled to leave the cavalry and become a member of His Majesty's Junior Service.
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Wikipedia