Scott, Clarence Garfield (Sergeant)

Rescued 1942-August-19

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Distinguished Flying Medal

Service

RCAF

Unit

418 (I) Sqn- Squadron
Piyautailili Defend even unto death: Inuktitut

Base

RAF Bradwell Bay

Rank

Sergeant

Position

Wireless Operator/Air Gunner

Service Numbers

R/70877

Wireless Operator/Air Gunner Sergeant Clarence Garfield Scott was instrumental in saving his crew, Pilot, Sergeant William Lyle Buchanan (RCAF) and Observer, Pilot Officer Paul Clark McGillicuddy (RCAF) after their aircraft ditched into the English Channel. He helped get both men clear of the wreckage and into a dinghy despite being injured himself

Sergeant Scott was awarded a Distinguished Flying Medal for his bravery

His citation reads: Can/R. 70877 Sergeant. Clarence Garfield SCOTT, Royal Canadian Air Force, No. 418. (R.C.A.F.) Squadron. This airman was the wireless operator/air-gunner of an aircraft detailed to attack a selected target prior to a landing by our combined forces at Dieppe. The bombing task was successfully accomplished but, on the return flight, whilst some 3 miles out to sea from Dieppe the aircraft was attacked by a Focke Wulf. 190. A burst of enemy fire raked the fuselage and set the starboard engine on fire. Sergeant Scott's gun seat was shot from under him but he fired a short burst at the attacker although he was unable to observe its effect. The pilot's cockpit became filled with smoke and fumes and the pilot himself was unable to see as he could not jettison the cockpit hood. The aircraft was forced down and, on impact with the water, it broke in two by the rear gunner's compartment. Sergeant Scott was thrown into the water without his dinghy. The front portion of the bomber turned over and sank. The pilot and observer were still inside but eventually both floated to the surface in an unconscious condition. Sergeant Scott immediately swam to the assistance of his pilot, inflated his safety jacket, removed his dinghy, inflated it and got the unconscious pilot safely aboard. Some 15 yards away; the observer was struggling with the shroud of his parachute which was around his neck and dragging his head under the water. Sergeant Scott swam to his aid and freed him, but was unable to inflate his dinghy as the fabric was torn. He therefore swam with the observer to the pilot's dinghy and managed to get him aboard. The dinghy was not large enough to hold 3 occupants but, with complete disregard for his own safety, Sergeant Scott, commenced swimming towards Dieppe. Fortunately, soon afterwards a friendly aircraft flew overhead. Anticipating that help would be forthcoming, he swam around and, about 50 minutes later both he and his comrades were rescued by a launch of the rescue service. In the face of extreme danger, this gallant airman displayed conspicuous courage and determination in his resolve to save his comrades, both of whom were injured and in great distress. Sergeant Scott also sustained a sprained ankle and a deep cut over the right eye. London Gazette No. 35709, Dated 1942-09-18

Unvetted Source Scott Clarence Garfield - TracesOfWar.com

Mission

Boston Mk. III W8298

Bombing 1942-August-19 to 1942-August-19

418 (I) Sqn (RCAF) RAF Bradwell Bay

Operation Jubilee

418 City of Edmonton Squadron RCAF (Piyautailili), RAF Bradwell Bay. Boston III aircraft W 8298 was shot down by Focke Wulfe 190 fighters and ditched into the English Channel during Operation Jubilee, the raid on Dieppe, France. Spotted in the water by a 277 Squadron Walrus aircraft, the crew, Sergeant (later Pilot Officer) William Lysle Buchanan (RCAF), Pilot Officer Paul Clark McGillicuddy (RCAF) and Sergeant Clarence Garfield Scott DFM (RCAF) were rescued by RAF High Speed Launch 442. Sadly, Pilot Officer McGillicuddy would die of his injuries

Sergeant Scott would be awarded his DFM for his bravery in the rescue of his crewmates

The Greatest Air Battle. Dieppe, 19th August 1942 by Norman Franks, pages 39,50-51,236

The Greatest Air Battle, Dieppe, 19th August 1942 by Norman Franks

Unvetted Source Royal Air Force Serial and Image Database

Unvetted Source Aviation Safety Network

Unvetted Source The Channel I Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archive

Unit Desciption

418 (I) Sqn Piyautailili ("City of Edmonton")

History of the Squadron during World War II (Aircraft: Boston III, Mosquito II, FB Mk VI)

[Note that the squadron crest and motto were not given to the squadron until after WWII. During WWII the squadron had neither crest nor motto.] The squadron was formed at Debden, Essex, UK in November 1941as the RCAF's only Intruder Squadron. As such, it was attached to 11 Group of Fighter Command (later renamed Air Defence of Great Britain), conducting day and night intruder operations. These involved a variety of targets, strategic attacks and intruder attacks on airfields. Originally the squadron flew Douglas Boston Mk. III, with the squadron code letters being TH. They flew from a number of airfields in the south of England from 1942 to 1944, namely Debden, Bradwell Bay, Ford, Holmsley South, Hurn, Middle Wallop and Hunsdon. In March 1943 the squadron re-equipped with de Havilland Mosquito Mks. II and F.B. VI aircraft., with a marked increase in their successes in destroying enemy aircraft. The squadron claimed its hundredth victory in May 1944. After D-Day the squadron was involved in the campaign against V-1 and V-2 weapons.

On November 21, 1944 the squadron was transferred from Fighter Command to the 2nd Tactical Air Force in No. 136 (RAF) Wing and operated from Hartford Bridge, Hampshire, UK. before moving to Base 71 at Coxyde, Belgium, and then finally moving to Base 80 at Volkel, the Netherlands . The squadron was disbanded there on September 7th 1945.

The squadron was the most high-scoring unit of the RCAF in WWII. It claimed 178 aircraft and 79 and a half V-1 Flying Bombs. There were a number of aces, among them Wing Commander R. Bannock, DFC and Bar, Squadron Leader R. Gray, DFC, Flying Officer S.P. Reid DFC, Squadron Leader H.D. Cleveland DFC, Flight Lieutenant C.M. Jasper DFC, Flight Lieutenant J. Evans, Flight Lieutenant S.H.R. Cotterill DFC, Flight Lieutenant D.E. Forsyth, Squadron Leader J.B. Kerr, Flight Lieutenant H.E. Miller and Flight Lieutenant P.S. Leggatt. The squadron won 3 DSO's, 42 DFC's, 9 Bars to DFC's, 1 Second Bar to DFC, 5 DFM's, 1 DFC(USA) and 1 Air Medal (USA). Overall, 3492 sorties were flown, 402 of which were on anti-V-1 patrols. 11,248 hours were flown operationally for the loss of 59 aircraft. The squadron was credited with destroying 178 aircraft, 17 locomotives destroyed and 59 damaged, with other destruction of rolling stock and motor vehicles. Battle Honours were: Defence of Britain 1944, Fortress Europe 1942-44, Dieppe, France and Germany 1944-45, Normandy 1944, Rhine. Wikipedia, Kostenuk and Griffin

Map for Movements of 418 Squadron 1941-45

MAP 1: 418 Squadron Movements 1941-45 (right-click on image to display enlarged in new tab)

418 Squadron History Summary 1941-45

418 Squadron History Summary 1941-45 Page 2

History of the Squadron Post-WWII (Aircraft: Harvard II, Mitchell, Expeditor, Silver Star, Otter, Twin Otter, Kingfisher)

The squadron re-formed at Edmonton, Alberta on 15 April 1946, flying North American B-5 Mitchell aircraft in a light bomber role. It moved to RCAF Station Namao, Alberta in 1955. In March 1958 it was reassigned to a light transport and emergency rescue role and was re-equipped with Beechcraft Expeditor and de Havilland Otter aircraft. Its duties ranged from aid to the civil power to aerial resupply. On 27 May 1967 it received a Squadron Standard for 25 years’ service. On 1 February 1968 the squadron was integrated into the Canadian Armed Forces as No. 418 “City of Edmonton” Air Reserve Squadron, and acquired de Havilland Twin Otter aircraft The squadron was disbanded in 1994, its aircraft being transferred to No 440 Transport Squadron.

418 Squadron was re-formed on March 13, 2019, The unit is based at 19 Wing Comox, British Columbia as 418 Search and Rescue Operational Training Squadron, training aircrew and maintenance personnel on the CC-295 Kingfisher, using simulators and aircraft, when the aircraft are delivered.