Rodney Diran Scrase from South Croydon attended Mundella Grammar School and later Alleyn’s Independent School in Dulwich. Rodney became a cadet joining the Cadet Corps. Until the outbreak of war he studied at the London School of Economics and then transferred to Cambridge. He was a valuable member of the rowing team and also joined the Cambridge University Air Squadron. Having completed University Rodney volunteered to join the RAF and enrolled at Cardington in May 1941.



Three months later he proceeded to the No 1 Aircrew Reception Centre at Regent’s Park and was approved as a suitable candidate for pilot training. Three weeks later he was transferred to No 4 Pre-Deployment wing at Wilmslow and was assigned the training programme at No 5 British Flying Training School, Clewiston. HMT Stratheden took him from Glasgow to Halifax, Canada and from there the two day journey to Clewiston where he joined the cadets on Course 3 at Riddle Field.



His first training flight was on 9th October 1941 in the PT17 Stearman. Having soloed in just under 12 hours, he completed his Progress Check in 40 hours.

Among Rodney’s memories of Florida were the generous hospitality of the local Americans who would often invite them into their homes.



He completed the Primary course in December 1941 and on 12th December moved on to the BT13A Vultee, training on the Link trainer for instrument flying. In January he progressed top the AT6, Harvard, completing his flying training on 7th March 1942. On returning to the UK he trained on the twin engine Airspeed Oxford with No 12 Advanced Flying Unit. The training in England during the war complemented the basic training in Florida as pilots were required to become accustomed to European weather, the blackout over England and map reading over a congested landscape.



After 40 hours he moved to 1511 Blind Approach Training Flight at Upwood in Huntingdonshire. Continuing flying on Oxfords, Rodney flew another 25 hours training before being posted to Tern Hill, Shropshire and flew Miles Master aircraft. It was there he first flew a Hurricane and would always remember his first flight with a Merlin engine.

Next posted to No 26 Course at 58 OTU Grangemouth, Rodney was trained to fly the Mark 1 Spitfire and, logging 58 hours he was signed off in November 1942, assessed as a ‘fighter pilot – good average.’



Later on he was sent on attachment with 611 Squadron to Biggin Hill. He was then trained to fly the Mark 1X in readiness for joining 72 Squadron in North Africa for Operation Torch and after the capture of Sicily in 1943, Operations Avalanche and Slapstick.



In 1944 now relocated to Italy and flying many patrols from Naples, Rodney’s operational tour expired on 3rd March 1944. He had flown 200 operational flights with 72 Squadron, flown 275 hours on operations altogether and a 50 further hours non operational.



In March, 1944 Rodney was posted to 71 OTU Ismailia, the headquarters of the Suez Canal Company, as a flying instructor. May 1944 he was posted to the Middle East Gunnery School at El Ballah for a month as instructor on No 24 Pilot Gunnery Instructors Course. Returning to Ismalia he took charge of Air Firing Flight.



December 1944 saw Rodney’s return to England joining No 1 Squadron, firsrt at Detling and then relocated to Manston. In April 1944 the Squadron moved to Coltishall and in mid-April Rodney moved to the Royal Navy air station at St Merryn on attachment to the School of Naval Air Warfare to join the No 3 Air Combat Instructors Course where he flew the Seafire L3.

After VE Day, attention turned to the continuing war in the Far East and Pacific and Rodney had a familiarisation on the Chance Vought Corsair. He returned to No 1 Squadron, now at Ludham, flying Spitfire Mark IX and Mark XXI. Finally there was a move to East Yorkshire and Rodney flew his 1000th hour in Spitfire Mark XXI LA202Y.



In September 1945 Flt.Lt Rodney Scrase was released from the RAF with a record of 4 destroyed, 3 damaged and a DFC. He returned to civilian life.