Sgt. Scratch RCAF
Tue Mar 25, 2008 11:48 am
Got a email with this story this morning.
Sgt. Scratch was born in Saskatchewan, July 7, 1919, and enlisted in the RCAF in Edmonton, as R60973 AC2 on July 20, 1940. He earned his wings as a Sgt. Pilot and flew with that rank for a long time. He flew Liberators from Gander Bay, Newfoundland, as a co-pilot on anti-submarine patrol. Scratch was good at his job and was eventually raised to commissioned rank.
As a Flying Officer and with many hours to his credit, Scratch wanted to fly as Captain, however, RCAF officials considered that, as he was slight in build, and had suffered ankle injuries in the past, he would not have the strength to control a Liberator in an emergency.
Sgt. Scratch wanted more action but was unsuccessful in getting an overseas posting. He became very depressed. One evening, June 19. 1944, in the mess, he entered into a debate about one man being able to take off, fly, and land, a Liberator. Scratch left the mess, went down to the hangar, fired up a Liberator, and took off. He shot up the American base at Argentia, and the base at Gander. When some fighters approached him to order him to land, they found him occupying, and rotating the mid-upper gun turret, with the aircraft on autopilot. The guns were fully armed and operational. When he returned to base he was placed under arrest, later court marshalled, and dishonorably discharged.
Mr. Scratch returned to Edmonton, Alberta, and went directly to the RCAF recruiting office where he was accepted back into the RCAF as a Sergeant Pilot. He was posted to #5 OTU, Boundary Bay. #5 OTU was training aircrew on Liberators for service against Japan. The Commonwealth Air Training Plan was winding down and many of the Pilots were senior aircrew from Training Command. Again Sgt. Scratch found himself flying second Pilot to officers with far less experience than himself. The training started on B-25 Mitchell aircraft and advanced to Liberators. When his experience and flying skills were not recognized, Sgt. Scratch again became frustrated.
On December 5, 1944, Sgt. Scratch attempted to take off, unauthorized, in a Liberator, Due to the fact that there was no official flying that night, the field was in darkness and the control tower un-manned, Scratch mistook a roadway for the runway and crashed into a wooden bridge wiping out the undercarriage. Undaunted, he returned to the hangar and signed out a B-25 Mitchell and took off.
Scratch flew down to Seattle, Washington, area and beat up the Seattle airport causing many aborted take offs. The Americans sent up fighter aircraft to bring the Mitchell down however, Scratch returned to Canada, disrupting and grounding flights at the Vancouver airport. He then flew around the Hotel Vancouver, well below the roof level and down Granvil St.
The following is an eye witness report by Norman Green. “7:00 hrs. December 6, 1944, while it was still dark, I was in the mess hall when it was shaken, and dishes fell to the floor as a result of an aeroplane flying low overhead. The same pass shook WDs out of their bunks.
As usual that morning at 8:00 hrs., 1200 airmen and airwomen, all ranks (I among them), formed up on the tarmac in front of the control tower for CO’s inspection. Just as the parade was about to be called to attention a B-25 Mitchell bomber came across the field at zero altitude, and pulled up sharply in a steep climb over the heads of the assembled airmen, just clearing the tower. Within seconds 1200 men and women were flat on the ground. The Mitchell then made several 25 ft. passes over the field. Group Captain Bradshaw dismissed the parade and ordered everyone to quarters.
Over the next two hours we witnessed an almost unbelievable demonstration of flying, much of it with the B-25’s wings vertical to the ground, below roof top level, defying gravity. We were continually diving into ditches to avoid being hit by a wingtip coming down a Station road. He flew it straight and level, vertically with the wing tip only six feet above the ground without losing altitude, defying all logic, and the law of physics.”
After an hour of this, three P40 Kittyhawks from Pat Bay Station arrived on the scene, fully armed, with orders to shoot the B25 down if it left the area of the station. They tried to get on his tail but could not stay with him in his tight turns below rooftop level. After two hours of this Sgt. Scratch flew over a corner of the field and circled one spot vertically with the Kittyhawks joining in like May Pole dancers.
Sgt Scratch then climbed to 2000 feet and wagged his wings as he crossed the field, boxed in by the fighters. When they were clear of the station the Kittyhawks signaled Sgt. Scratch to land. He nodded his head, gave them the thumbs down sign, rolled over, pulled back on his controls, and, aiming at an uninhabited spot on Tillbury Island in the Fraser River, dived into it. The shattered red taillight lens was later located dead centre between the points of impact of the engines.
Could this tragedy have been prevented? Could Sgt Scratch’s flying talents been better used in theatres where he wished to serve? Should the Administration have recognized his expertise and frustrations, made him Captain of his aircraft and crew, and posted him to a theatre of his choice?
Whatever the motivation, there is one definite truth, Sgt. Scratch, WAS A SUPERB PILOT
Sgt. Scratch was born in Saskatchewan, July 7, 1919, and enlisted in the RCAF in Edmonton, as R60973 AC2 on July 20, 1940. He earned his wings as a Sgt. Pilot and flew with that rank for a long time. He flew Liberators from Gander Bay, Newfoundland, as a co-pilot on anti-submarine patrol. Scratch was good at his job and was eventually raised to commissioned rank.
As a Flying Officer and with many hours to his credit, Scratch wanted to fly as Captain, however, RCAF officials considered that, as he was slight in build, and had suffered ankle injuries in the past, he would not have the strength to control a Liberator in an emergency.
Sgt. Scratch wanted more action but was unsuccessful in getting an overseas posting. He became very depressed. One evening, June 19. 1944, in the mess, he entered into a debate about one man being able to take off, fly, and land, a Liberator. Scratch left the mess, went down to the hangar, fired up a Liberator, and took off. He shot up the American base at Argentia, and the base at Gander. When some fighters approached him to order him to land, they found him occupying, and rotating the mid-upper gun turret, with the aircraft on autopilot. The guns were fully armed and operational. When he returned to base he was placed under arrest, later court marshalled, and dishonorably discharged.
Mr. Scratch returned to Edmonton, Alberta, and went directly to the RCAF recruiting office where he was accepted back into the RCAF as a Sergeant Pilot. He was posted to #5 OTU, Boundary Bay. #5 OTU was training aircrew on Liberators for service against Japan. The Commonwealth Air Training Plan was winding down and many of the Pilots were senior aircrew from Training Command. Again Sgt. Scratch found himself flying second Pilot to officers with far less experience than himself. The training started on B-25 Mitchell aircraft and advanced to Liberators. When his experience and flying skills were not recognized, Sgt. Scratch again became frustrated.
On December 5, 1944, Sgt. Scratch attempted to take off, unauthorized, in a Liberator, Due to the fact that there was no official flying that night, the field was in darkness and the control tower un-manned, Scratch mistook a roadway for the runway and crashed into a wooden bridge wiping out the undercarriage. Undaunted, he returned to the hangar and signed out a B-25 Mitchell and took off.
Scratch flew down to Seattle, Washington, area and beat up the Seattle airport causing many aborted take offs. The Americans sent up fighter aircraft to bring the Mitchell down however, Scratch returned to Canada, disrupting and grounding flights at the Vancouver airport. He then flew around the Hotel Vancouver, well below the roof level and down Granvil St.
The following is an eye witness report by Norman Green. “7:00 hrs. December 6, 1944, while it was still dark, I was in the mess hall when it was shaken, and dishes fell to the floor as a result of an aeroplane flying low overhead. The same pass shook WDs out of their bunks.
As usual that morning at 8:00 hrs., 1200 airmen and airwomen, all ranks (I among them), formed up on the tarmac in front of the control tower for CO’s inspection. Just as the parade was about to be called to attention a B-25 Mitchell bomber came across the field at zero altitude, and pulled up sharply in a steep climb over the heads of the assembled airmen, just clearing the tower. Within seconds 1200 men and women were flat on the ground. The Mitchell then made several 25 ft. passes over the field. Group Captain Bradshaw dismissed the parade and ordered everyone to quarters.
Over the next two hours we witnessed an almost unbelievable demonstration of flying, much of it with the B-25’s wings vertical to the ground, below roof top level, defying gravity. We were continually diving into ditches to avoid being hit by a wingtip coming down a Station road. He flew it straight and level, vertically with the wing tip only six feet above the ground without losing altitude, defying all logic, and the law of physics.”
After an hour of this, three P40 Kittyhawks from Pat Bay Station arrived on the scene, fully armed, with orders to shoot the B25 down if it left the area of the station. They tried to get on his tail but could not stay with him in his tight turns below rooftop level. After two hours of this Sgt. Scratch flew over a corner of the field and circled one spot vertically with the Kittyhawks joining in like May Pole dancers.
Sgt Scratch then climbed to 2000 feet and wagged his wings as he crossed the field, boxed in by the fighters. When they were clear of the station the Kittyhawks signaled Sgt. Scratch to land. He nodded his head, gave them the thumbs down sign, rolled over, pulled back on his controls, and, aiming at an uninhabited spot on Tillbury Island in the Fraser River, dived into it. The shattered red taillight lens was later located dead centre between the points of impact of the engines.
Could this tragedy have been prevented? Could Sgt Scratch’s flying talents been better used in theatres where he wished to serve? Should the Administration have recognized his expertise and frustrations, made him Captain of his aircraft and crew, and posted him to a theatre of his choice?
Whatever the motivation, there is one definite truth, Sgt. Scratch, WAS A SUPERB PILOT
Tue Mar 25, 2008 2:53 pm
Facinating story!
I'm curious as to what the accident report would say. What was the serial on the B-25?
- David
I'm curious as to what the accident report would say. What was the serial on the B-25?
- David
Tue Mar 25, 2008 3:25 pm
Mitchell was RCAF HD343, December 06, 1944. Pilot F/Sgt Scratch,
From the accident report:
"Pilot had just written off Liberator while attempting solo takeoff. He then stole HD343 off the flight line and performed aerobatics over lower Vancouver for several hours. He flew the aircraft back to Boundary Bay and continued the display. 3 Kittyhawks from Pat Bay were called up to shoot the aircarft down if it made a move for the US border. The pilot played cat and mouse with the fighters for a while, then pulled up to around 1,000 ft as if for normal approach and the Kittyhawks backed off. He then filcked the aircraft over, went into a dive and crashed on a small island in the Fraser Estuary. The aircarft was completely destroyed and the pilot killed. Wreck removed."
From the accident report:
"Pilot had just written off Liberator while attempting solo takeoff. He then stole HD343 off the flight line and performed aerobatics over lower Vancouver for several hours. He flew the aircraft back to Boundary Bay and continued the display. 3 Kittyhawks from Pat Bay were called up to shoot the aircarft down if it made a move for the US border. The pilot played cat and mouse with the fighters for a while, then pulled up to around 1,000 ft as if for normal approach and the Kittyhawks backed off. He then filcked the aircraft over, went into a dive and crashed on a small island in the Fraser Estuary. The aircarft was completely destroyed and the pilot killed. Wreck removed."
Tue Mar 25, 2008 4:02 pm
That's really a facinating story. I've probably seen the island he crashed on a million times, too.
I just did a google search and found it. Directly North from Boundary Bay Airport.
Cheers,
David
I just did a google search and found it. Directly North from Boundary Bay Airport.
Cheers,
David
Tue Mar 25, 2008 10:28 pm
Far stranger than fiction!!!!! 
Thu Mar 27, 2008 12:47 pm
daveymac82c wrote:Facinating story!
I'm curious as to what the accident report would say. What was the serial on the B-25?
- David
My cousin, Sgt Patrick Donnelly was training at Bounday Bay and witnessed the affair first hand. Sadly he passed away just a couple of months ago, I nearly jumped out of my skin when I saw that Air Force magazine had an article on Scratch.
There are a couple of things that I can recall from our conversations baout this event though. He indicated that Scratch was anxious to get overseas in the worst way and that he didn't hold some of the officers at the base in high regard. He seemed to have a particular problem with one of them and was repeatedly butting heads with him.
Like a lot of young men, he liked to drink. Pat indicated to me that he believed that Scratch had been drinking quite heavily on the night in question.
He also indicated that he had never seen flying like that before or since and that the Kittyhawks that pursued him couldn't touch him.
Thu Mar 27, 2008 12:56 pm
Now I wonder if the P-40's held back after observing Sgt. Scratch's death defying maneuvers. I bet those pursuit pilots were a little affraid to get too close to Scratch.
It really is a sad story.
It's also amazing that your cousin managed to see what took place first hand. It must have been one heck of a site to see.
As much as it wouldn't fit the description of the show, I think it would make a really neat episode of History Channel's "Dog Fights."
Cheers,
David McIntosh
It really is a sad story.
It's also amazing that your cousin managed to see what took place first hand. It must have been one heck of a site to see.
As much as it wouldn't fit the description of the show, I think it would make a really neat episode of History Channel's "Dog Fights."
Cheers,
David McIntosh
Sgt Scratch
Thu Mar 27, 2008 5:48 pm
Regardless of skill, the man seemed to be a sociopath. No doubt he would have killed any of his own crew, given the opportunity.
Thu Mar 27, 2008 9:49 pm
It would be interesting to see the real story, the one with the lose ends and the lack of journalistic gee-whiz and polish.
I've always rather liked the saying that 'the superior pilot is one who uses his superior judgement to avoid using his superior skill'. Unless there's bits we don't know, Sgt Scratch was a disgrace with a few remarkable skills. As a military airman, wrecking several aircraft (and worse) simply because he wanted to do another job than allocated in wartime was utterly selfish and short-sighted. Flying skill to the extent of suicide while wasting government equipment and hazarding the lives of your fellow airmen hardly sounds like 'a superb pilot' to me.
Makes a good bar tale though. And his ghost walks the corridors to this day...
there is one definite truth, Sgt. Scratch, WAS A SUPERB PILOT
I've always rather liked the saying that 'the superior pilot is one who uses his superior judgement to avoid using his superior skill'. Unless there's bits we don't know, Sgt Scratch was a disgrace with a few remarkable skills. As a military airman, wrecking several aircraft (and worse) simply because he wanted to do another job than allocated in wartime was utterly selfish and short-sighted. Flying skill to the extent of suicide while wasting government equipment and hazarding the lives of your fellow airmen hardly sounds like 'a superb pilot' to me.
Makes a good bar tale though. And his ghost walks the corridors to this day...
Fri Mar 28, 2008 12:30 am
JDK wrote:
A-F'n-men, until I got to part where he killed himself, I thought they were going to go on to give us the highlights of his post war career at American Airlines.
I've always rather liked the saying that 'the superior pilot is one who uses his superior judgement to avoid using his superior skill'. Unless there's bits we don't know, Sgt Scratch was a disgrace with a few remarkable skills. As a military airman, wrecking several aircraft (and worse) simply because he wanted to do another job than allocated in wartime was utterly selfish and short-sighted. Flying skill to the extent of suicide while wasting government equipment and hazarding the lives of your fellow airmen hardly sounds like 'a superb pilot' to me.
A-F'n-men, until I got to part where he killed himself, I thought they were going to go on to give us the highlights of his post war career at American Airlines.
Fri Mar 28, 2008 9:03 am
daveymac82c wrote:It really is a sad story.
It's also amazing that your cousin managed to see what took place first hand. It must have been one heck of a site to see.
As much as it wouldn't fit the description of the show, I think it would make a really neat episode of History Channel's "Dog Fights."
Cheers,
David McIntosh
It is a sad story. I read some of the other comments calling him a sociopath, disgrace etc, I find it hard to think of him in that way. I saw the reverence with which my cousin spoke of him. He indicated to me that he was very popular and respected among his fellow airmen.
He may very well have killed his crew on ops as someone suggested but I'll wager one thing, he would have had dozens of men lining up for the chance to fly with him.
Its a good story worthy of a documentary, Dogfights seems to turn every show into a PR piece so I'd rather they left it alone.