THE PRO PATRIA PROJECT
SCOTT Nisbet James
NZ415425, Flying Officer, Pilot, Royal New Zealand Air Force, WW2
CITATIONDistinguished Flying CrossThis officer has shown the greatest enthusiasm and determination in the execution of a large number of air operations, including attacks on shipping,radar buildings, and railway systems. On one occasion he was wounded and his aircraft badly damaged, but he flew to base and made a successfullanding. Flew with 175 Sqn from Aug 1943. Hit by flak and crashed in England on 16 Mar 1944 and injured. Member of the ‘Caterpillar Club’; baledout on being shot down on 27 Sep 1944 and was taken prisoner.KNOWN AWARDSDistinguished Flying Cross1939-45 StarAir Crew Europe StarFrance & GermanyDefence MedalWar Medal 1939-45 New Zealand War Service MedalNOTESBorn 29 October 1921, Naseby, New ZealandDied 2005, Blenheim, New ZealandBIOGRAPHY
His medals and memorabilia are located in the RNZAF Museum.
He was stationed at 175 Squadron in Brunton, UK. He was part of the Operation Overlord with the 2nd Tactical Air Force where they demolished the Germans retreating at Falaise Gap and Chambois. His log books will also soon be at the Museum, they detail his two tours as a Typhoon and Hurricane pilot. It was during this time that we was awarded a DFC for managing to bring a damaged plane back to the UK.He was shot down over Germany in September 1944 and taken to Stalag Luft 1 where he was liberated by the Russians and returned to the UK to recover. He then went to Jarvis Bay in Canada where he originally had trained as a new New Zealand Pilot Recruit and met his future wife. On return to Canada, he married her and brought her to NZ as a War Bride
