2nd Lt Phillip R. Scott (pilot)

by Fred Becchetti
(Ann Arbor MI)

Two engines on his plane damaged by flak on Jan. 1945 mission over Linz, Austria. Had to ditch in the Adriatic near Croatia...Plane broke in half and back half sunk quickly with loss of two crew members.
Two life rafts deployed but without expected supply of rations, etc., and were damaged and leaked. Members spent several days adrift trying to stay afloat and alive (losing another crew member) before being rescued
by a British patrol boat. His ordeal and survival at sea earned him membership in the Sea Squatters Club and the Goldfish Club. Lt. Scott, after return to Italy and treatment for his injuries, was returned to active duty but Germany surrendered and he was sent back to the US. In 1952 He prepared a report on the incident for the USAF RESEARCH STUDIES INSTITUTE on survival at sea after ditching. He is quoted in the report later issued, "Airman Against the Sea"
I was fortunate to obtain Lt. Scott's personal papers including a copy of his Missing Air Crew Report and letters related to the above from a local aviation collector. I would be glad to make copies of the material for the 376th BG archives. I could not find his plane (42-95285 Red Ryder) listed in USAF serial numbers but it appears to be a Ford built B24H, at the Willow Run factory a few miles from me. In addition it appears to have been made close in time (maybe same day even) as the B24H a relative of mine flew with 445 BG out of England : B24H 42-95308. Recall Ford built one complete B24 every hour as well as producing major sub assemblies for planes assembled elsewhere.

There is additional information (his personal account) on the above posted at the 376th BG site under Lt. Scott's name.

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376 ARCHIVES

The website 376bg.org is NOT our site nor is it our endowment fund.

At the 2017 reunion, the board approved the donation of our archives to the Briscoe Center for American History, located on the University of Texas - Austin campus.

Also, the board approved a $5,000 donation to add to Ed Clendenin's $20,000 donation in the memory of his father. Together, these funds begin an endowment for the preservation of the 376 archives.

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My Trip to San Pancrazio

October 2019


Reunion

NOTE change in month !!!

DATES: Oct 26-29, 2023

CITY:Tucson, AZ

HOTEL: Double Tree Suites Airport hotel

7051 South Tucson Blvd., Tucson, AZ 85756

520-225-0800


Click here to read about the reunion details.

previous reunions


For Sale

The Other Doolittle Raid


The Broken Wings of Zlatibor


The Liberandos


Three Crawford Brothers


Liberando: Reflections of a Reluctant Warrior


376th Bomb Group Mission History


The Last Liberator


Full Circle


Shadows of Wings


Ten Men, A "Flying Boxcar," and A War


I Survived Ploesti


A Measure of Life


Shot Down In Yugoslavia


Stories of My Life


Attack


Born in Battle


Bombardier's Diary


Lost Airmen


Langdon Liberando