- Maurice D. G. Scott
-
Maurice Douglas Guest Scott Born 13 November 1895
Exeter, Devon, England, or Dorset, EnglandDied 17 March 1918
Shoreham, EnglandOckbrook All Saints Churchyard, Derbyshire, England Allegiance England Service/branch Infantry; aviation Rank Captain Unit Loyal North Lancashires, No. 18 Squadron RFC, No. 54 Squadron RFC, No. 46 Squadron RFC, No. 91 Squadron RFC Awards Military Cross Captain Maurice Douglas Guest Scott was a British World War I flying ace credited with 12 official victories while a member of the Royal Flying Corps. He scored as both an aerial observer and a pilot; he was successful while serving with three different squadrons.
Contents
Early life
Scott's origins are murky. He was born in either Exeter[1] or Dorset during the late autumn of 1895;[2] one source gives 13 November.[3] However, he seems to have been raised in Felixstowe.[4]
World War I service
After service in the infantry early in World War I, Scott transferred to aviation in February 1916. He began as an observer in 18 Squadron's Vickers Gunbuses.[5] On 3 April 1916, he was credited with capturing a German two-seater reconnaissance craft at Souchez.[6]
He would subsequently train as a pilot, being appointed as a Flying Officer on 21 May 1916,[7] and being posted to 54 Squadron to fly Sopwith Pups. At the start of Bloody April 1917, on the 5th, he teamed with Frank Hudson, Reginald Charley, and another pilot to destroy a German observation balloon. On 9 May 1917, he destroyed another enemy two-seater. Two days later, Scott was part of a patrol that included William Strugnell, Oliver Sutton, and three other squadronmates. They caught up with a German recon plane and destroyed it, for a victory apiece. On 1 June, Scott and Sutton drove an Albatros D.III fighter down out of control over Honnecourt, and Scott became an ace.[8]
He subsequently transferred to 46 Squadron[9] and was appointed Flight Commander, along with a promotion to temporary captain, on 21 June 1917.[10] He began a string of seven wins on 4 September 1917 by teaming with four squadronmates to drive down an Albatros two-seater south of Scarpe. He would tally six more wins that month, destroying a DFW recon craft, and driving down two Albatros D.Vs and two German reconnaissance planes. On 8 October 1917, he was relieved from combat duty to return to Home Establishment.[11]
Maurice Douglas Guest Scott died in an airplane accident on 17 March 1918.[12] He was awarded the Military Cross the following day.[13]
Honors and awards
Citation for award of the Military Cross
Lt. (T./Capt.) Maurice Douglas Guest Scott, N. Lan. R., Spec. Res., and R.F.C.
For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in aerial combats. On one occasion his patrol encountered seven enemy machines, two of which he drove down out of control. He has destroyed eleven enemy aeroplanes, and proved himself a very dashing patrol leader.[14]
Reference
- Franks, Norman. Sopwith Pup Aces of World War 1: Volume 67 of Osprey Aircraft of the Aces: Issue 67 of Aircraft of the Aces. Osprey Publishing, 2005. ISBN 1841768863, 9781841768861.
Endnotes
- ^ http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/england/scott3.php Retrieved 21 February 2011.
- ^ Franks, page 22
- ^ http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/england/scott3.php Retrieved 21 February 2011.
- ^ Franks, page 22
- ^ Franks, page 22
- ^ http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/england/scott3.php Retrieved 21 February 2011.
- ^ (Supplement to the London Gazette, 2 November 1916) http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/29811/supplements/10620 Retrieved 21 February 2011.
- ^ http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/england/scott3.php Retrieved 21 February 2011.
- ^ http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/england/scott3.php Retrieved 21 February 2011.
- ^ (Supplement to the London Gazette, 4 July 1917) http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/30163/supplements/6646 Retrieved 21 February 2011.
- ^ http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/england/scott3.php Retrieved 21 February 2011.
- ^ http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/england/scott3.php Retrieved 21 February 2011.
- ^ (Supplement to the London Gazette, 18 March 1918) http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/30583/supplements/3431 Retrieved 21 February 2011.
- ^ (Supplement to the London Gazette, 18 March 1918) http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/30583/supplements/3431 Retrieved 21 February 2011.
People and aircraft Campaigns and battles Strategic bombing (German, Cuxhaven) · Bombing of cities · Fokker Scourge · Flight over Vienna · Bloody April · BattlesEntente Powers air services Australian Flying Corps · British air services (Royal Flying Corps, Royal Naval Air Service, Royal Air Force) · French Air Service · Imperial Russian Air Force · Italian Military Air Corps · United States Army Air Service · Greek air services (Army Air Service, Naval Air Service)Central Powers air services German air services (Army Air Service, Navy Air Service) · Austro-Hungarian Imperial and Royal Aviation Troops · Ottoman Air Force · Bulgarian Army Aeroplane SectionCategories:- 1895 births
- 1918 deaths
- British World War I flying aces
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