Desmond J. Scott

Group Captain Desmond James Scott, DSO, OBE, DFC & Bar (11 September 1918 – 8 October 1997) was a New Zealand fighter pilot during the Second World War. He got his licence as a private pilot in New Zealand in 1939 and was automatically enlisted in the Royal New Zealand Air Force in September of that year. After Arriving in Britain in September 1940 Scott flew for the Royal Air Force, rising through the ranks to become one of the youngest group captains in the RAF.

Early life
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:

Scott was sent for training to the Air Force base at Wigram Aerodrome where he was teamed up with a Stan "Spud" Murphy to fly Fairey Gordons. In late 1940 Scott sailed to England as part of a contingent of New Zealand pilots from his course at Wigram. On arrival in Scotland in September the New Zealanders were sent to the aircrew reception centre at Uxbridge.

3 Squadron
From Uxbridge Sergeant Scott was posted to RAF Fighter Command and commenced advanced training at RAF Sutton Bridge as a Hurricane pilot. After a week flying Miles Masters and North American Harvards Scott was allowed to fly a Hurricane:

In January 1941 Scott and E.L "Nipper" Joyce, another New Zealander from Scott's Wigram course, were posted to 3 Squadron, which was then based at Skeabrae in the Orkney Islands, defending the nearby naval base at Scapa Flow. On 3 April 1941 3 Squadron was transferred to Martlesham Heath near Ipswich and became part of 11 Group. On 9 April they were joined by 71("Eagle") Squadron and both units settled down to a quiet period of convoy patrols. Both units were equipped with Hurricane Mks. IIA and IIB, armed with eight and 12 .303-inch Browning machine guns respectively, although these were being changed for the improved Mk IIC, which was armed with four 20 mm Hispano cannon. It became apparent that 3 Squadron was expected to operate both by day and by night in a wide range of roles:

1941–45
Scott made his first claims on 7 August 1941, a pair of Bf-109s damaged over Le Touquet. During night intruder operations over Holland, Scott was to claim several kills during the first half of 1942, totalling 3.5 claimed destroyed, 3 probables and 3 damaged. .

He was promoted Flight Sergeant in May 1942 before being commissioned in July, becoming a Flight Commander in August. In September he received the DFC and bar, promoted to Squadron Leader, and rested from operations, serving with HQ Fighter Command in a staff position.

In April 1943 he converted to the Hawker Typhoon and joined No. 198 Squadron as a Squadron Leader before moving to command No. 486 Squadron (NZ), flying offensive fighter-bomber operations over Europe. In the next four months he claimed another two destroyed and two shared destroyed. In August 1943 he received the DSO and became Wing Leader, RAF Tangmere.

In November 1943 he was rested and posted as Commanding Officer, RAF Hawkinge. In March 1944 he commanded the newly formed 123 Wing flying Typhoons, taking the unit to Europe during mid-1944, and becoming the youngest Group Captain in the RNZAF. He finished his tour in February 1945. He was awarded the OBE for rescuing a pilot from a burning crashed aircraft.

His claims for the war were 5 (and 3 shared) aircraft destroyed, 4 (and 2 shared) 'probables', 5 (and 1 shared) damaged.