Background
Woods-Scawen was born on 29 June 1916 in Karachi, India, the son of Philip Neri and Kathleen Florence Woods-Scawen.
Woods-Scawen was born on 29 June 1916 in Karachi, India, the son of Philip Neri and Kathleen Florence Woods-Scawen.
He was educated at the Salesian College, Farnborough.
Woods-Scawen joined the on a short service commission in October 1937. He was posted to Number. 11 Flying Training School at Royal Air Force Wittering on 9 January 1938 and joined Number. 85 Squadron Royal Air Force at Royal Air Force Debden on 20 August.
He went to France with the squadron at the outbreak of war.
On 10 May 1940 Woods-Scawen destroyed a Henschel Hs 126 and shared a Junkers Ju 88, on 11 May shared a Dornier Do 17, on 17 May destroyed a Messerschmitt Bf 109 and on 19 May destroyed three more and probably a fourth. The squadron withdrew to Royal Air Force Debden on 22 May.
He was promoted to the rank of Flying Officer on 25 May 1940. The citation reads:
During May 1940, this officer destroyed six enemy aircraft and assisted in the destruction of others
On one occasion, although heavily outnumbered, he attacked without hesitation a large formation of enemy aircraft, shooting down two of them.
His own aircraft was hit by a cannon shell and he was slightly wounded, but succeeded in escpaing by parachute and rejoining his unit He has displayed great courage, endurance and leadership. On 29 July Woods-Scawen damaged a Dornier Do 17 forty miles east of Felixstowe and had his own aircraft damaged by return fire.
He claimed a Bf 109 probably destroyed and a Do 17 shared on 26 August, a Bf 109 destroyed on 28 August, a Messerschmitt Bf 110 on 30 August and three Bf 109s on 31 August.
Woods-Scawen was shot down in combat with Bf 109s in the Kenley area on 1 September 1940. He baled out but was killed when his parachute failed.
His body was not found until 6 September in the grounds of The Ivies, Kenley Lane. 43 Squadron Royal Air Force was killed the day after him on 2 September 1940.
Woods-Scawen is buried in Street Mary"s churchyard, Caterham on the Hill, Surrey.