Early Life
Desmond J Scott was born in Ashburton in the province of Canterbury, New Zealand on 11 September 1918. He was educated at Cathedral Grammar School in Christchurch, before becoming a salesman.
In the late 1930s Scott joined the Territorial Army and became a trooper in the Canterbury Yeomanry Cavalry. After an encounter with a New Zealand Permanent Air Force Bristol F.2 Fighter Scott decided to become a pilot, enlisting with a local flying club where he learned to fly a de Havilland Gypsy Moth. After a total of six and a half hours of dual instruction Scott flew solo. Each hour of instruction cost 30 shillings and Scott was:
| “ | ...saved from my creditors by a stroke of good fortune. Just prior to Hitler's indiscretions, our government introduced a scheme in which successful applicants were given 40 hours flying at the taxpayer's expense. Much to my surprise my application was successful. About the same time as I completed my 40 hours, England declared war on Germany. I promptly received a registered letter from our Air Department reminding me of a small clause at the bottom of our contract. Thus I was compelled to leave the cavalry and become a member of His Majesty's Junior Service. | ” |
| — Desmond J. Scott, "One More Hour" |
Scott was sent for training to the Air Force base at Wigram Aerodrome where he was teamed up with a Stan "Spud" Murphy to fly Fairey Gordons. In late 1940 Scott sailed to England as part of a contingent of New Zealand pilots from his course at Wigram. On arrival in Scotland in September the New Zealanders were sent to the aircrew reception centre at Uxbridge.
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