Flight Lieutenant Allan Scott DFM


| Flight Lieutenant Allan Scott DFM
Allan Scott joined the RAF in March 1941, joining 124 Squadron in October, where he made his first claim - a shared Ju88 near Clacton-on-Sea. Ordered to Malta, he flew his Spitfire off HMS Eagle to the island on 21st July 1942, where the Germans attempted to lure the 30 Spitfires on a heading to Siciliy with a false broadcast, without success. Initially posted to 603 Squadron, he went to 1435 Squadron, seeing much action - including a victory over an Italian S.79 bomber during Operation Pedestal on 13th August. He claimed a further Me109 that month, but a concerted Axis bombing campaign came in October. On the 12th, he claimed 3 Me109s - one destroyed, one probable and one damaged - and the next day he claimed another Me109 destroyed alongside two damaged Ju88s. On the 15th he claimed another Me109 bomber escort and had claimed another probable and another destroyed before the attacks tailed off around the 21st. He remained with this unit until December 1942. Whilst on Malta he was credited with at least 5 destroyed and a further 2 probables, and received the DFM. Returning to the UK he became an instructor before joining No.122 Sqn flying Spitfires on intruder missions over France. By January 1944 the squadron had re-equipped with long range P-51 Mustangs for bomber escort duties. He carried out dive-bombing sorties in the Mustang in the build up to D-Day in 1944, before becoming a test pilot in July that year. After the war, he suffered serious injury when aerobatics in a Tiger Moth caused the airframe to fail and the aircraft to crash. He died on 8th September 2020.
 Distinguished Flying Medal |
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