World War II, Flying Tigers

Robert Lee Scott Jr. was one of World War II’s most recognizable American flying aces—not only for his combat record, but for the way he helped the public understand air war through his own words. Born in Macon, Georgia, Scott graduated from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and entered the Army Air Corps at a time when American air power doctrine was still evolving. When war engulfed China and Southeast Asia, Scott volunteered for hazardous overseas duty and became associated with the American Volunteer Group—the famed Flying Tigers—operating in the China-Burma-India theater. Flying rugged P-40 Warhawks against Japanese aircraft, Scott quickly proved himself an aggressive and skilled combat pilot. Scott later served with distinction in the U.S. Army Air Forces after America formally entered the war. Over the course of his service, he was credited as a flying ace, earning multiple aerial victories while also taking on leadership roles that demanded discipline and judgment under extreme conditions.