Maurice D. G. Scott

Maurice Douglas Guest Scott
Born	13 November 1895 Exeter, Devon, England, or Dorset, England
Died	17 March 1918 Shoreham, England
Ockbrook 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.

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 Felixstowe.

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 Souchez.

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 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.

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.

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.

References

• 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 1-84176-886-3, ISBN 978-1-84176-886-1.