Patrick Woods-Scawen

Patrick Philip "Woody" Woods-Scawen DFC (29 June 1916 – 1 September 1940) was a Royal Air Force officer who flew during the Battle of Britain and as such was one of "The Few".

Patrick Philip Woods-Scawen
Nickname(s)"Woody"
Born(1916-06-29)29 June 1916
Karachi, British India
Died1 September 1940(1940-09-01) (aged 24)
Kenley, England
Allegiance United Kingdom
Service/branch Royal Air Force
Years of service1937-1940
RankPilot Officer
Battles/warsBattle of France, Battle of Britain
AwardsDistinguished Flying Cross
RelationsAnthony Woods-Scawen

Early life

Woods-Scawen was born on 29 June 1916 in Karachi, India, the son of Philip Neri and Kathleen Florence Woods-Scawen. He and his younger brother Tony returned to the family home in Farnborough, Hampshire in 1924. He was educated at the Salesian College, Farnborough.[1]

Royal Air Force

Woods-Scawen joined the Royal Air Force on a short service commission in October 1937. He was posted to No. 11 Flying Training School at RAF Wittering on 9 January 1938 and joined No. 85 Squadron RAF at RAF Debden on 20 August. He went to France with the squadron at the outbreak of war. On 10 May 1940, Woods-Scawen destroyed a Henschel Hs 126 and shared a Junkers Ju 88, on 11 May shared a Dornier Do 17, on 17 May destroyed a Messerschmitt Bf 109 and on 19 May destroyed three more and probably a fourth. The squadron withdrew to RAF Debden on 22 May. He was promoted to the rank of flying officer on 25 May 1940.[2]

Woods-Scawen was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (gazetted 25 June 1940). The citation reads:

During May 1940, this officer destroyed six enemy aircraft and assisted in the destruction of others. On one occasion, although heavily outnumbered, he attacked without hesitation a large formation of enemy aircraft, shooting down two of them. His own aircraft was hit by a cannon shell and he was slightly wounded, but succeeded in escpaing by parachute and rejoining his unit. He has displayed great courage, endurance and leadership.[3]

On 29 July, Woods-Scawen damaged a Dornier Do 17 forty miles east of Felixstowe and had his own aircraft damaged by return fire. He claimed a Bf 109 probably destroyed and a Do 17 shared on 26 August, a Bf 109 destroyed on 28 August, a Messerschmitt Bf 110 on 30 August and three Bf 109s on 31 August.

Woods-Scawen was shot down in combat with Bf 109s in the Kenley area on 1 September 1940. He baled out, but was killed when his parachute failed. His body was not found until 6 September in the grounds of The Ivies, Kenley Lane. His younger brother Tony serving with No. 43 Squadron RAF was killed the day after him on 2 September 1940.[4]

Woods-Scawen is buried in St Mary's churchyard, Caterham on the Hill, Surrey.[5]

References
  1. "The Airmen's Stories - F/O P P Woods-Scawen". Battle of Britain London Monument. Retrieved 6 February 2018.
  2. "No. 34898". The London Gazette. 16 July 1940. p. 4362.
  3. "No. 34881". The London Gazette. 25 June 1940. p. 3862.
  4. "Woods-Scawen, Charles Anthony". Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Retrieved 6 February 2018.
  5. "Woods-Scawen, Patrick Philip". Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Retrieved 6 February 2018.
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