Group Captain Desmond James Scott, DSO, OBE, DFC & Bar (11 September 1918 – 8 October 1997) was a New Zealand fighter pilot and flying ace of the Second World War.

Awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and Bar for his service with the squadron, he later flew Hawker Typhoons in operations over the English Channel and Europe.

While in this role, he rescued a pilot of a crashed and burning Supermarine Spitfire, and was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire for this feat.

[2][3] It was while he was on an exercise with the yeomanry, when his troop experienced a mock attack by Bristol fighters of the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF), that he resolved to learn to fly.

[1] According to Scott, he had taken advantage of a scheme that provided government funds to private individuals for flight training in return for a commitment to serve in the military if called upon.

[4] He was sent for training to the RNZAF base at Wigram Aerodrome and in late 1940, with others from his flight school intake, he sailed to England as a sergeant pilot to serve in the Royal Air Force (RAF).

After his arrival, he received further flight training at RAF Sutton Bridge, where he learnt to fly the Hawker Hurricane fighter.

[5][6] On 7 August, while on a sweep over France, he claimed one Messerschmitt Bf 109 fighter as probably destroyed and another damaged over Le Touquet.

[7] In May, and now flying a Hurricane Mk IIC, he destroyed two more aircraft, one being a half share with another pilot, and two probables, one of which was a Junkers Ju 88 medium bomber.

Throughout, he has displayed great skill and keenness, while his exceptional devotion to duty has set an admirable example.In June, he made only one claim, for a damaged Dornier Do 217 medium bomber.

Promoted to flight lieutenant the same month, in July, a Ju 88 was confirmed as destroyed over Nordwijk and another unidentified type of German aircraft as damaged.

Having been promoted to squadron leader, Scott was posted to Bentley Priory, the headquarters of Fighter Command, in a staff role for six months.

The citation, published at the end of September, read:Since being awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, this officer has completed numerous intruder sorties and has destroyed two and damaged several more enemy aircraft.

Implementing a high standard of discipline, he switched tactics, having the squadron attacking enemy shipping and carrying out offensive fighter-bomber operations over Europe.

This was during a rescue operation, providing cover for a dinghy holding the crew of a British Vickers Wellington bomber that had crashed into the English Channel and which had been spotted by Scott's flight as they made their way to Le Havre to attack enemy shipping.

He is a first class leader whose great skill and fine fighting qualities have been reflected in the high standard of operational efficiency of the squadron which has obtained many successes.

Fighter opposition was encountered but Squadron Leader Scott skilfully drew away the enemy aircraft, two of which were destroyed by his formation in the ensuing engagement.

The published citation for the OBE read:In January, 1944, a Spitfire aircraft, which had been damaged by enemy action, crashed on an airfield and burst into flames.

Despite the intense heat of the conflagration and exploding ammunition, Wing Commander Scott, after considerable difficulty, succeeded in extricating the pilot and carried him to a safe distance from the fire.

During the incident he sustained burns to his face and hands which would have been severe were it not for the foam which was sprayed over him from the fire tender.In March, he was appointed commander of the newly formed No.

[17] The wing flew in support of the invasion of Normandy and then Scott took his command, as part of the 2nd Tactical Air Force, to mainland Europe, firstly in France and then the Netherlands.

123 Wing provided air support for the British during Operation Market Garden and for the Canadian infantry during the Battle of the Scheldt.

[21] Already one of New Zealand's most decorated fighter pilots of the Second World War, Scott was awarded the French Croix de Guerre as well as the Belgian equivalent.

[28] However he ultimately did not stand in the election, and his replacement as the Labour candidate for St Albans, Neville Pickering, won the seat.