Desmond James Scott, 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 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.
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. 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:
Combat
In January 1941, Scott and E.L "Nipper" Joyce, another New Zealander from Scott's Wigram course, were posted to No. 3 Squadron RAF, 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 No. 71 Squadron RAF, and both units settled down to a quiet period of convoy patrols. Both units were equipped with Hurricane Marks IIA and IIB, armed with eight and 12.303-inch Browning machine guns, respectively, although these were being changed for the improved Mark 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: Scott made his first claims on 7 August 1941, a pair of Bf-109s damaged over Le Touquet. During night intruder operations over the Netherlands, 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 Distinguished Flying Cross and Bar, was 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, flying offensive fighter-bomber operations over Europe. In the next four months, he claimed another 2 destroyed and 2 shared destroyed. In August 1943, he received the Distinguished Service Order 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 No. 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 appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire for rescuing a pilot from a burning crashed aircraft. Scott's claims for the war were 5 aircraft destroyed, 4 'probables', 5 damaged.
Post-war and later life
Scott transferred to the Royal Air Force in 1947, being granted a permanent commission as a flight lieutenant from 14 August while retaining his war substantive rank of wing commander. Scott's war substantive rank reverted to squadron leader on 1 November that year, though he retired from the RAF less than two years later, on 28 February 1949, due to "medical unfitness". He was a member of the New Zealand Labour Party and was initially selected to contest the Christchurch electorate of St Albans for Labour at the general election. However he ultimately did not stand in the election, and his replacement as Labour candidate Neville Pickering won the seat. In 1982, Scott wrote of his accounts in his book Typhoon Pilot. It has been reprinted several times. He died on 8 October 1997, aged 79.
