Robert Lee Scott, Jr.
| Robert Lee Scott Jr. | |
|---|---|
Robert Lee Scott Jr., fighter ace and author
|
|
| Nickname(s) | Scotty |
| Born |
12 April 1908 Waynesboro, Georgia |
| Died | 27 February 2006 (aged 97) Warner Robins, Georgia |
| Allegiance |
 United States of America
|
| Service/branch |
 United States Air Force
|
| Years of service | 1932–1957 |
| Rank |
 Brigadier General
|
| Commands held |
23rd Fighter Group 36th Fighter Bomber Wing Luke Air Force Base |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
| Awards |
Silver Star (2) Distinguished Flying Cross (3) Air Medal (3) |
| Other work | author |
Robert Lee Scott Jr. (12 April 1908 – 27 February 2006) was a brigadier general in the United States Air Force. Scott is best known for his autobiography God is My Co-Pilot about his exploits in World War II with the Flying Tigers and the United States Army Air Forces in China and Burma. The book was eventually made into a film of the same name.
Scott was born in Waynesboro, near Macon, Georgia, the oldest of three children born to Ola and Robert Scott. As a youth, Scott was educated in Macon and became an Eagle Scout and recipient of the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award. At the age of five he witnessed the fatal aircraft crash of pioneer aviator Eugene Ely.
Upon graduation from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1932, Scott completed pilot training at Kelly Field, Texas. In October 1933, he was assigned to Mitchel Field, New York. Scott flew air mail in 1934, commanded a pursuit squadron in Panama, and helped instruct other pilots at bases in Texas and California.
After World War II began, Scott joined Task Force Aquila in February 1942 to fly a group of Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress bombers to the China Burma India Theater. Anxious to join the mission, which was to bomb Japan from China, he professed to be an experienced B-17 pilot. He actually learned to fly it en route to Africa. Upon arrival in India, he found the mission had been scrubbed so he became stuck in India when he really wanted to be on the frontline in a cockpit flying combat. Within a month, he was executive and operations officer of the Assam-Burma-China (Ferry) Command, forerunner of the famous Air Transport Command, flying the Hump from India to China to supply the Kuomintang government. When the commanding officer left for China on 17 June, Scott was left in command of the operation for several days.
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