World War II ace, aviation museum advocate dies Published March 2, 2006 Air Force Materiel Command Public Affairs WRIGHT-PATTERSON FORCE BASE, Ohio -- WRIGHT-PATTERSON FORCE BASE, Ohio (AFMCNS) - One of the armed forces' prominent World War II heroes and driving forces behind the Museum of Aviation at Robins Air Force Base, Ga., died Feb. 27. Retired Brig. Gen. Robert L. Scott Jr., a World War II ace fighter pilot, was 97 years old. General Scott also was known for his 1943 best-selling book, "God Is My Co-Pilot", which Warner Brothers turned into a movie that premiered in 1945. Memorial Services are being arranged at McCullough Funeral Home in Warner Robins. Burial will be at Arlington National Cemetery in Washington, D.C. General Scott recorded 13 confirmed aerial victories during World War II while flying the P-40. He himself was never shot down. General Scott was a member of Gen. Claire Chennault's American Volunteer Group in China that was known as the "Flying Tigers." After the war, General Scott served in the Pentagon on a task force to win autonomy for the Air Force from the Army, which finally occurred in September 1947. In that year he was given command of the Air Force's first jet fighter school at Williams Field, Ariz. He then moved to Europe in 1950 to command the 36th Fighter Wing at Furstenfieldbruck, Germany. In 1954, after graduating from the National War College he was promoted to brigadier general. He was assigned to Plans at Headquarters Air Force, and then to the position of Director of Information under the Secretary the Air Force. General Scott retired in 1957. In 1986, General Scott went to Warner Robins for the unveiling of an exhibit of his memorabilia at the Museum of Aviation. He was asked to stay and the next year moved to Warner Robins to become the head of the Heritage of Eagles Campaign, which ultimately raised $2.5 million to build a 3-story Eagle Building at the Museum. His ties to the museum won't be forgotten, according to the current Museum of Aviation director. "To actually work with him, to actually see the passion he had about this museum and about the Air Force and history and to relay that passion to children and grown-ups, I think that will probably be something that I'll always remember," said Paul E. Hibbitts, who's headed the facility since 2003. "We have a wonderful museum," said Mr. Hibbitts. "We wouldn't have everything we have if it wasn't for General Scott giving his time to us." (Editor's note: Holly Birchfield, 78th Air Base Wing Public Affairs, along with the Museum of Aviation, contributed to this article.)