Claims by Deanesley/Scott, 256 Sqn 3/4 May 41

[phasselgren]

According to the Combat report (dated 12.5.1941) the pilot Flt Lt Edward Christopher Deanesley and Air Gunner William Jack Scott, RNZAF, No.256 flying a Defiant l destroyed a Dornier at 23.55 hours on the night 3/4 May 1941. They had also encountered a Ju 88 at 23.30 in what was described as a dog-fight. No claim is included in the beginning of the report but in the “Personal combat report” (dated 5.5.1941) it was written: “In any case we consider the E/A was damaged and may well have come down.”

In the recommendation for the award of a DFM to Scott (dated 30.5.1941) the claim against the Ju 88 has been up-graded to probably destroyed. Finally when I check with books like Aces High and RAF Fighter Command Victory Claims of WW2 plus Tony Wood’s Combat claims & Casualties lists they all have this claim as a confirmed “destroyed”. Unfortunately I do not have the ORB .

I hope someone will be able to confirm why this claim was up-graded to a confirmed destroyed. Apparently this process must have taken some days.

Thanks in advance,
Peter
PS
Deanesley/Scott was one of the most successful night fighter crews with Defiant with a total score of 4 destroyed