Maurice D. G. Scott
Encyclopedia
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.
.
.
He would subsequently train as a pilot, being appointed as a Flying Officer
on 21 May 1916, and being posted to 54 Squadron to fly Sopwith Pup
s. 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.
He subsequently transferred to 46 Squadron and was appointed Flight Commander, along with a promotion to temporary captain, on 21 June 1917. 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.
Maurice Douglas Guest Scott died in an airplane accident on 17 March 1918. He was awarded the Military Cross the following day.
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.
Flying ace
A flying ace or fighter ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down several enemy aircraft during aerial combat. The actual number of aerial victories required to officially qualify as an "ace" has varied, but is usually considered to be five or more...
credited with 12 official victories while a member of the Royal Flying Corps
Royal Flying Corps
The Royal Flying Corps was the over-land air arm of the British military during most of the First World War. During the early part of the war, the RFC's responsibilities were centred on support of the British Army, via artillery co-operation and photographic reconnaissance...
. He scored as both an aerial observer
Aerial observer
Aerial Observer- Air Force Reconnaissance.An Aerial Observer is the functional position of gathering information visually from an airborne platform for use by military or commercial purposes. This history started when the first balloons were flown in Europe...
and a pilot; he was successful while serving with three different squadrons.
Early life
Scott's origins are murky. He was born in either Exeter or Dorset during the late autumn of 1895; one source gives 13 November. However, he seems to have been raised in FelixstoweFelixstowe
Felixstowe is a seaside town on the North Sea coast of Suffolk, England. The town gives its name to the nearby Port of Felixstowe, which is the largest container port in the United Kingdom and is owned by Hutchinson Ports UK...
.
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. On 3 April 1916, he was credited with capturing a German two-seater reconnaissance craft at SouchezSouchez
Souchez is a commune in the Pas-de-Calais department in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region of France.-Geography:Souchez lies north of Arras, at the junction of the D937, D57 and D58 roads. The small river Souchez, a tributary of the Deûle, flows through the town.-Population:-Places of interest:* The...
.
He would subsequently train as a pilot, being appointed as a Flying Officer
Flying Officer
Flying officer is a junior commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence...
on 21 May 1916, and being posted to 54 Squadron to fly Sopwith Pup
Sopwith Pup
The Sopwith Pup was a British single seater biplane fighter aircraft built by the Sopwith Aviation Company. It entered service with the Royal Flying Corps and the Royal Naval Air Service in the autumn of 1916. With pleasant flying characteristics and good maneuverability, the aircraft proved very...
s. At the start of Bloody April
Bloody April
During the First World War, the month of April 1917 was known as Bloody April by the Royal Flying Corps . The RFC suffered particularly severe losses — about three times as many as the Imperial German Army Air Service over the same period — but continued its primary role in support of the ground...
1917, on the 5th, he teamed with Frank Hudson
Frank Hudson
Captain Frank Neville Hudson MC was a World War I flying ace credited with six aerial victories....
, Reginald Charley
Reginald Charley
Captain Reginald Morse Charley was a World War I flying ace credited with six aerial victories. He qualified as an engineer in 1911. He moved to Pittsburgh in the United States to work in February 1914. In 1915, he joined the Royal Flying Corps in Canada. By the middle of 1916, he was serving back...
, and another pilot to destroy a German observation balloon
Observation balloon
Observation balloons are balloons that are employed as aerial platforms for intelligence gathering and artillery spotting. Their use began during the French Revolutionary Wars, reaching their zenith during World War I, and they continue in limited use today....
. On 9 May 1917, he destroyed another enemy two-seater. Two days later, Scott was part of a patrol that included William Strugnell
William Strugnell
Group Captain William Victor Strugnell was a World War I flying ace credited with six aerial victories. He went on to a long career in the Royal Air Force, eventually rising to Group Captain and serving through World War II....
, Oliver Sutton
Oliver Sutton (aviator)
Captain Oliver Manners Sutton was a World War I flying ace credited with seven aerial victories.-Early life:Sutton's parents were Algernon Charles and Winifred Alice Sutton of "Woodcroft", Tunbridge Wells, Kent.-World War I service:...
, 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
Albatros D.III
The Albatros D.III was a biplane fighter aircraft used by the Imperial German Army Air Service and the Austro-Hungarian Air Service during World War I. The D.III was flown by many top German aces, including Manfred von Richthofen, Ernst Udet, Erich Löwenhardt, Kurt Wolff, and Karl Emil Schäfer...
fighter down out of control over Honnecourt
Honnecourt-sur-Escaut
Honnecourt-sur-Escaut is a communes in the Nord department in northern France.-Heraldry:-References:*...
, and Scott became an ace.
He subsequently transferred to 46 Squadron and was appointed Flight Commander, along with a promotion to temporary captain, on 21 June 1917. 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
Scarpe
The Scarpe is a river in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region of France, left tributary of the Scheldt. It is approximately a hundred kilometers long, of which two thirds has been turned into canals....
. He would tally six more wins that month, destroying a DFW
DFW
DFW may refer to:*Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport*Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, a metropolitan area in north Texas*Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources*Division of Fisheries and Wildlife...
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.
Maurice Douglas Guest Scott died in an airplane accident on 17 March 1918. He was awarded the Military Cross the following day.
Honors and awards
Citation for award of the Military CrossLt. (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.
Reference
- Franks, NormanNorman FranksNorman Leslie Robert Franks is an English writer who specialises in aviation books on the pilots and squadrons of World Wars I and II.-Biography:...
. 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.