Lt. Col. Roy L. Scott - Greenville Instructor

Lt. Col. Roy Lee Scott was born 11 Sep 1914 to David H. and Nellie M. (Barker) Scott in Peru, KS.  In high school, he was a standout basketball player and a golden gloves boxer.  Following graduation from high school, he spent time serving in the Civilian Conservation Corps.  Later, he attended Pittsburg State University, Pittsburg, KS, where he met his wife of 56 years, Marcia Mary Vaughan.  He enlisted in the US Army Air Corps on 29 May 1941 at Fort Leavenworth, KS.  He earned his wings upon graduation from Advanced Flying Training at Stockton, Field,  ​CA, on 9 Jan 1942.  The certificate below was awarded to him upon graduation and documents his instrument flying training in the ​Link Trainer at Stockton.

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After earning his wings, as a 1st Lt he was a student in the first class at the Instrument Instructor's School at Bryan Army Airfield, Bryan, TX, circa May 1943.  Additional Greenville AAF instructors attending the five week course with Lt. Scott were Lt's Roy H. Guess, Robert E. Zimonick, John A. Barstow, William J. Plunkett, and Clarence L. Solander.  

Upon return to Greenville AAF in 1943, Lt Scott helped organize the Instrument Training School at Greenville.  Later in his career, fellow pilot Major Robert E. Zimonick signed a statement attesting to (then) Major Scott's experience and contributions.

In Jul 1943, he was one of 26 Lieutenants at Greenville AAF promoted to the rank of Captain.

During his time at either Bryan Army Airfield or Greenville, Capt Scott stumbled upon a piece of artwork that he acquired.  A depiction of an Air Corps pilot immersed in instrument flying.  Wearing headphones, he hears the "dit-dah" and "dah-dit" of an ​A-N radio range navigation system.  Focused in his sights are the needle-ball turn and bank indicator and altimeter, the primary instruments used for flying an instrument approach at the time.

On 31 Dec 1945 he was separated from the US Army Air Forces, but returned to active duty during the Korean War with the US Air Force (designated as a separate branch of service under the National Security Act of 1947) under the Air Research and Development Command.  At the end of the Korean War he was discharged at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.

Later in life, Lt. Col. Scott was a frequent writer to the Orlando Sentinel newspaper opinion section.  Shortly after Sep 11th (2001), he wrote The Orlando Sentinel to share his thoughts regarding retaliation;

"I know all of us are angry and want to get even, but don't push President Bush to do something in a big hurry that could swamp the whole nation.

President Roosevelt had two years to prepare, and we did not operate with the best efficiency early in the Pacific."
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Lt. Col. Roy Lee Scott passed away at the age of 100 on 19 Apr 2015 in New Albany, IN.  

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