Robert Scott

"Old Exterminator" P-40K

Arthur of "God is my Copilot"

Artwork and research are by Sir Ernie Hamilton Boyette

There are 1,250 limited edition prints in this series. Print size 18x24"

Limited Edition, Signed by the Ace. $95.00 Shipping: $6.00 anywhere in the world.

Poster Print $20.00 Shipping: $6.00 anywhere in the world.

Poster prints are autographed by the artist only. 

Robert Lee Scott Jr.

By Sir Ernie Hamilton Boyette

Robert Lee Scott Jr. was born in a small town in Georgia. The date was the twelfth of April 1908. He was born in Waynesboro and grew up in Macon. After seeing his first airplane a very young Robert jumped off a neighbor’s house, “the Old Napier Mansion ” in an attempt to fly. Robert and a friend build a very un-aerobatic aircraft from scrap lumber and what ever they had on hand. And yes Robert told me that they pulled the airplane up to the top of the roof with a rope and Robert took the controls. His flight was quite short with most of those three seconds pointing towards the earth. Robert ended up in a large flowering bush that grew against the house. He told me that he was lucky. However the bush in question that Scottie ended up in was a rose bush with thorns so Robert did not get away unscratched. He told me, “He was tore up good!” He is not the only boy that jumped off the roof of a house, or a barn in an attempt to fly. Pilots from all nations have told me the same story.

Robert graduated from college on June 10, 1932 and then pursued his wings. Scottie had his Wings finally pinned on his uniform in 1933 at Randolph Field, Texas. Scot flew most all the early Army Air Corp fighters. One he told me he liked the P-12 “Pea shooter.” He was rated as an excellent marksman in gunnery competition.

Robert ended up becoming a flight instructor for many years. He was stationed at Cal Aero Academy at Ontario, California when the war in Europe was raging. The thoughts of being passed over and not able to fly and fight stirred emotions in his heart.

After the attack on Pearl Harbor , Scott volunteered for combat in March 1942. He was now tired of training pilots and was longing for the opportunity to fight like the brave RAF pilots against the Luftwaffe. Scottie knew that his age would be held against him but he hoped that his record and his persuasiveness would prevail. He was quite disappointed for at the age of 33 he was considered to old for combat duty and would remain a flight instructor forever.

Scottie got his big chance to fly the new B-17 bomber from China to the Japanese homeland. By the time he got to the South East Asia , the Japanese had conquered the land areas that the Allies were to operate form.

Scotties mission was now changed. The B-17’s he and his group were to fly went to American units in North Africa , Scottie and the rest of his group went to fly with the newly formed Assam-Burma-China Transport command. Instead of flying Boeing Bombers in combat Bob found himself flying cargo planes over the “Hump” taking supplies over the earth’s highest peeks. This was a dreary boring flight with many risks and dangers from extreme climate and weather conditions to mechanical malfunctions and then there were the enemy fighters to look out for.

Scottie after becoming a Captain.

Bob was itching for combat and not in a cargo plane. The Flying Tigers were famous for their exploits fighting outnumbered by enemy fighters and bombers and always being victorious. And here was Bob flying back and forth over these ridiculous high mountains risking his life to bring the Flying Tigers, aviation gasoline, oil, food, medical supplies, and aircraft parts.

Clair Chennault was taken by Scott’s positive attitude and his desire to do more than fly transports. Chennault gave Scott a P-40. This was not normal military protocol. But Colonel Bob Scott got his fighter on April 29^th.

From then on he was more or less a free wheeling self-imposed fighter pilot. The very first thing he did to his fighter was to personally draw with a piece of caulk the famous Flying Tiger shark teeth at the opening of his radiator on both sides of the fuselage. Bob told me that he painted the design on his fighter himself and all the while he was painting Scottie though he was the luckiest man in the world.

Bob started flying solo missions into enemy territory. With no previous experience this was indeed a bold move. Not foolish, brave. His first missions were against Japanese troop movements, convoys and barge traffic. He had his P-40 equipped to carry small bombs to give him more punch for a single aircraft. In May Bob logged 214 hours and 45 minutes of combat hours flying as many as four missions a day.

Affectionately Scottie named his fighter “Old Exterminator.” He had found out form British intelligence in the area that on one raid along one of the mountain roads, with the use of a couple of bombs and his guns he killed approximately four hundred Japanese troops.

Reports of Scottie were getting around calling him a “One Man Air Force.” Bob told me at the time it didn’t seem right because the enemy presence was growing in the area and that is what he was worried about. He tried everything to confuse the enemy and one way was really quite simple.

On each mission he would paint the nose cap of his propeller a different color to let the Japanese believe that each aircraft that attacked was from a different squadron.

It worked just as he had planned. On a few missions one day on the same troop movement he attacked with his spinner painted white, then the next attack it would be blue and the next red. Bob said that the paint would not have time to dry before he was speeding down the runway to his next mission.

Bob’s goal was to join the Flying Tigers and finally he was offered the opportunity to fly as a “Guest.” He flew wing on several missions with the Tigers and thought this was great.

On returning from a mission on June 26^th he was met with a telegram he said he would never forget. He was to report to Chennault as the commanding officer of the newly formed 23^rd Fighter Group, which was to be activated from the remaining AVG on July 4, 1942. Bob said he was flying but he wasn’t in “Old Exterminator.” His heart sang.

Robert L. Scott earned the Distinguished Service Cross, Silver Star, with one Oak Leaf Cluster, Distinguished Flying Cross with one Oak Leaf Cluster, Air Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster and the British Distinguished Flying Cross.

Scottie was officially credited with ten confirmed aerial victories, five enemy aircraft as probable and damaged three others. Please note that he was not awarded the Purple Heart for his injuries or for anything he did while flying un-official combat missions before he was given the command of the 23^rd Fighter Group. Thankfully the British did recognize Scott for his efforts with their medal, the British Distinguished Flying Cross.

Enjoy the photos I have below of a reunion I attended with both Tex Hill and Scott.

Photo of Robert "Bob" Scott.

Tex Hill, Ernie Boyette, and Robert Scott.

I love this guy! I met Scottie by chance at an airport in Texas. When I saw him we just had to stop and chat. I could listen to him all day.

I hated to get the phone call that Scottie had left us. Farewell and blue skies my friend, my hero.

Painting by Sir Hamilton.

This painting of Robert Scott is for sale. If you are interested please contact me below.

Painting size is 18x36" $5,000.00

Robert Scott Fan Club

Below is a link to the Robert Scott Fan Club.

If you are interested, please visit them.

www.robertlscottfanclubassociation.com

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All research, writings and artwork are by Sir Ernie Hamilton Boyette.

No one is permitted to republish any part of this story with out my personal permission.

Please call or e-mail me for any use of this story.

I do not mind sharing, just call or e-mail and ask for permission.

Sir Ernie Hamilton Boyette

Aviation Artist/Historian

107 Arthur Moore Drive

Green Cove Springs, Florida 32043

Phone Number; 1-904-406-5791

E-Mail Address; aviationartstore@peoplepc.com

Posted 2-10-07

Counter Added on July 29, 2011