![]() | Draft article not currently submitted for review.
This is a draft Articles for creation (AfC) submission. It is not currently pending review. While there are no deadlines, abandoned drafts may be deleted after six months. To edit the draft click on the "Edit" tab at the top of the window. To be accepted, a draft should:
It is strongly discouraged to write about yourself, your business or employer. If you do so, you must declare it. Where to get help
How to improve a draft
You can also browse Wikipedia:Featured articles and Wikipedia:Good articles to find examples of Wikipedia's best writing on topics similar to your proposed article. Improving your odds of a speedy review To improve your odds of a faster review, tag your draft with relevant WikiProject tags using the button below. This will let reviewers know a new draft has been submitted in their area of interest. For instance, if you wrote about a female astronomer, you would want to add the Biography, Astronomy, and Women scientists tags. Editor resources
Last edited by A1139530 (talk | contribs) 22 days ago. (Update) |
God is my Co-Pilot is a 1943 book written by Robert Lee Scott, Jr, on his experiences fighting in China and India during the Second World War. Written by Scott, it features a foreword from Flying Tiger's commander Claire Chennault. (BEEP)
Plot
editChildhood and Early days in the Military
editScott begins the story by recalling his days a child in Macon, Georgia, flying model planes. He recalls he crashed a model plane into the church bushes, which he refers to as "The only ship I would ever crash". He would later be endorsed to attend the military academy at West Point, after graduation in 1932 he would take odd jobs, flying airmail over the cold air of Cleveland. He would become a flight instructor at Kelly Field and various bases in California. [1]
Outbreak of War in the East
editAfter the United States declared war over Japan after Pearl Harbor in 1941, Scott recalls to the reader his excitement over the prospect of flying combat planes, being able, in his words, "fighting for the American girl, Democracy, Coca-Cola...and the American way of life." [2] He is then told that he is too old to fly, which he then expresses his frustration, as while at Kelly Field, he was too young to fly; now, he was too old to participate in aerial combat. He would then recall hearing about Task Force Aquila, which was running bombing missions of Japan from China. He agreed to go on the mission, lying about the fact he knew how to fly a B-16. He had his co-pilot teach him to fly the bomber, in which he recalls the shock of his crew when he told them that the crew was to teach Scott to fly the plane he signed up to fly.[3]
Upon landing in India, Scott and his crew where told that the Task Force Aquila was cancelled, and was grounded in India for the time being. Desperate for flying time, he agrees to take on the "odd job" of flying "The Hump" over India to supply the KMT in China, whose operations he would later command.[4]
Realizing the Skytrains flying over "The Hump" had no fighter escorts, Scott successfully convinced AVG commander Claire Chennault to loan him a P-40. He flew the "ship" (as he referred to all of his planes) to escort the cargo planes over the Himalayas, learning aerial combat tactics from other AVG members firsthand. Colonel Chennault, while observing the thoughts of his men, saw Scott as a good leader, so, later in the year, after many days of begging by Scott, Chennault gave Scott command of the 23rd Fighter Group, a hodge-podge of new recruits and men left over from the Army Air Corps consolidation of the Flying Tigers, flying with the likes of Colonel "Tex" Hill.
Commander of the 23rd
editUpon taking command of the 23rd in late 1942[5], he began flying combat missions over China with his group, where he instantly became popular with the men. He flew a many a sortie vs enemy resources over China, and he tells the reader the sadness and human aspect of war, touching on how the group was touched and saddened during the military of their comrades. He recalls how the Chinese villagers pulled a P-40 out of the water using just ropes and string. He also recalls some of his 388 combat missions he flew against the Japanese between 1942 and 1943.[6] He totaled, during that time, 22 kills against his Japanese opponents. [7]
He concludes his book by citing John Gillespie's High Flight, as he discusses the start of one more mission, taking off in his P-40.
Writing of the Book
editIn 1943, the US Department of Defense realized the morale lift that the story of a hardscrabble boy fighting the Japanese would have on the home front, which was already beginning to grow weary of war. [8] In 1943, his command of the 23rd was recalled, and Scott went home, where for the first couple of weeks, he made speeches and helped to sell war bonds around the nation. The DoD would later ask him then to write a story on his experience, however, the colonel was becoming weary of home and wanted to fight. He agreed he would tell his story, but only if he would be allowed into the field of combat soon afterwards. In three days, he recorded his entire written manuscript on the book into a tape. That tape would be transcribed and published by Blue Ribbon Books of New York, and officially published in late 1943. [9]
Public Reception
editAfter the publishing of the book, overall reception to the book was extremely positive. The book sold out often and would often require reprintings to keep up with the American Public, who where hungry for stories of successful war heroes. Since the book was used as wartime propaganda, the book was considered an instant success by the Army Air Corp and the American public. [10] For many school-aged boys living during the war, "this was the first book that they ever read without pictures", and Scott's vivid imagery of flying created aerial combat enthusiasts out of these school-aged boys. [11]
The New York Times reviewed the book, (July 25th, 1943 FOR LIBRARY REFERENCE FOR POTENTIAL MICROFILMING)
Some historians consider Scott's work more folklore than truth, as Scott was known for telling tall tales.
Film
editA film version of the same name, starring Dennis Morgan as Scott, and directed by Robert Florey, was filmed in 1944 using the book as an inspiration. It would premier on February 21, 1945, in Macon, Georgia, to mass hoopla. [12]
See Also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Aviation History Book Review: God is My Co-Pilot". HistoryNet. 2020-10-28. Retrieved 2022-10-28.
- ^ Scott, Robert Lee (1943). God is my Co-Pilot. Warner Robins, GA: Museum of Aviation Foundation.
- ^ "Robert Scott". New Georgia Encyclopedia. Retrieved 2022-10-28.
- ^ "God Is My Co-Pilot". Goodreads. Retrieved 2022-10-28.
- ^ "Moody Air Force Base > About Us > Units > 23rd Wing > 23d Fighter Group". www.moody.af.mil. Retrieved 2022-10-28.
- ^ Patterson, Michael Robert (2022-10-17). "Robert L. Scott, Jr. - Brigadier General, United States Air Force". Arlington National Cemetery. Retrieved 2022-10-28.
- ^ Patterson, Michael Robert (2022-10-17). "Robert L. Scott, Jr. - Brigadier General, United States Air Force". Arlington National Cemetery. Retrieved 2022-10-28.
- ^ "BRIGADIER GENERAL ROBERT L. SCOTT JR". www.af.mil. Retrieved 2022-10-28.
- ^ Scott, Robert L. (2015-02-15). God Is My Co Pilot - Scholar's Choice Edition. Bibliolife DBA of Bibilio Bazaar II LLC. ISBN 978-1-298-02811-2.
- ^ Coram, Robert (2016-08-23). Double Ace: The Life of Robert Lee Scott Jr., Pilot, Hero, and Teller of Tall Tales. Macmillan. ISBN 978-1-4668-3542-9.
- ^ Coram, Robert (2016). Double Ace: The Life of Robert Lee Scott., Pilot, Hero, and Teller of Tall Tales (1st ed.). Thomas Dunne Books. p. 207.
- ^ Coram, Robert (2016). Double Ace: The Life of Robert Lee Scott Jr., Pilot, Hero, and Teller of Tall Tales (1st ed.). Thomas Dunne Books.