This Shot Is an Example of Veterans’ Unique Dedication to Dedication

Updated Jul 3, 2020 3:34 AM EDT

This Veterans Day, I want to tell story about an experience that has always stuck in my mind. Back on March 28, 2014, I had heard that a group of USMC AV-8B Harriers from VMA-311 “Tomcats” had landed at Portland International Airport, and they were here to do a flyover at a funeral. Aviation photography is a serious passion of mine , and I wanted to catch these guys going out on their mission, so I hauled out to the airport to catch them leaving. The only problem was the weather wasn’t just the usual rainy muck we see in the Pacific Northwest, it was especially horrible.

Sheets of blowing rain were blasting through the area, and at times the ceiling dropped down to just a couple hundred feet, with intermittent mist below that. It was a dark day. I thought there was no way these guys were going to attempt a flyover in this storm. What would be the point?

Then the canopies opened up and the ground crews emerged.

The division of Harriers sat with their engines running, preparing to taxi. Even air traffic controllers seemed surprised they were going to complete the mission. As they made the long taxi to the end of runway 10L, the storm worsened—the sky was dumping water by the bucket and the cloud deck plummeted.

Wind gusting and the rain pouring, I wondered how these guys would even be able to see their targeted flyover point, or each other for that matter, and was just amazed that they were going to attempt the formation.

The jets departed, their exhaust nozzles churning up massive clouds of mist that obscured them from view as they muscled into the air. I was soaked to the bone, but I got a few shots.

Later that day I had heard that the flyover was for a very special Marine. Staff Sergeant Francis G. Scott, who lived in Oregon City about ten miles south of Portland, was a Silver Star recipient for his actions during the Battle of Tarawa had passed away at 93 years old. Here is the official citation for his Silver Star:

“The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Sergeant Francis G. Scott (MCSN: 299979), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while serving with Battery B, First Battalion, Tenth Marines, SECOND Marine Division, during action against enemy Japanese forces at Tarawa, Gilbert Islands, on 22 November 1943. Discovering an unexploded naval shell in the position assigned his howitzer section and realizing the danger to his entire battery, Sergeant Scott immediately seized the projectile and boldly carried it through the enemy’s shattering machine-gun and rifle fire to an unoccupied area two hundred yards distant. His fearless initiative, prompt action and valiant disregard of his own peril served as an inspiration to all men in his vicinity and reflect the highest credit upon Sergeant Scott and the United States Naval Service.

Action Date: November 22, 1943”

I also learned that the four-ship of Harriers flew visually, in tight formation, below a ceiling of around 500 feet, down the Willamette Valley, and pulled off what was probably one of the best funeral flyovers ever.

The mission was a shining example of courage, not to win a battle but to pay homage to another man who displayed even greater courage in battle.

Oorah Marines, Oorah. And a huge thanks to all those who have served our country on this Veterans Day.

Contact the author: Tyler@thedrive.com

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更新于美国东部时间2020年7月3日凌晨3:34

在今年的退伍军人节，我想讲述一段令我记忆犹新的经历。2014年3月28日，我听说美国海军陆战队VMA-311“雄猫”中队的AV-8B“鹞”式战斗机降落在波特兰国际机场，他们此行的目的是为一场葬礼进行飞行表演。航空摄影是我的一大爱好，我非常想记录下这些战机执行任务的瞬间，于是驱车前往机场。然而，那天的天气并非太平洋西北地区常见的阴雨绵绵，而是异常糟糕。

倾盆大雨呼啸而过，云层有时低至几百英尺，下面还夹杂着间歇性的雾气。真是阴沉沉的一天。我想，这些人肯定不会在这种暴风雨中尝试飞越。有什么意义呢？

然后舱盖打开，地勤人员走了出来。

鹞式战斗机编队引擎空转，准备滑行。就连空中交通管制员似乎都对他们能够完成任务感到惊讶。当他们滑行至10L跑道尽头时，暴风雨愈演愈烈——天空倾盆而下，云层骤然下沉。

狂风呼啸，暴雨倾盆，我心想这些人要怎么才能看到他们预定的飞行点，或者彼此看到对方，我简直不敢相信他们竟然要尝试编队飞行。

喷气式飞机起飞了，它们的排气喷嘴搅起滚滚浓雾，遮蔽了它们的身影，它们奋力冲向天空。我浑身湿透，但还是拍到了几张照片。

当天晚些时候，我听说这次飞行是为了纪念一位非常特别的海军陆战队员。弗朗西斯·G·斯科特中士，居住在波特兰以南约十英里的俄勒冈城，因在塔拉瓦战役中的英勇表现而荣获银星勋章，享年93岁。以下是他的银星勋章官方嘉奖令：

“美国总统荣幸地授予美国海军陆战队中士弗朗西斯·G·斯科特（军士长编号：299979）银星勋章，以表彰其在1943年11月22日于吉尔伯特群岛塔拉瓦与日军作战期间，在隶属于第二海军陆战师第十陆战团第一营B连的战斗中表现出的英勇无畏精神。斯科特中士在其榴弹炮排的阵地上发现了一枚未爆炸的海军炮弹，意识到整个炮兵连面临危险，立即抓起炮弹，冒着敌人猛烈的机枪和步枪火力，勇敢地将其带到两百码外的无人区。他无畏的行动、迅速的反应和英勇无畏的精神激励了周围所有战友，也为斯科特中士和美国海军赢得了至高荣誉。”

行动日期：1943年11月22日”

我还了解到，四架鹞式战斗机以紧密的队形，在约 500 英尺的云底高度，沿着威拉米特河谷进行目视飞行，完成了可能是史上最精彩的葬礼飞行表演之一。

这次任务堪称勇气的典范，其目的不是为了赢得一场战斗，而是为了向另一位在战斗中展现出更大勇气的战士致敬。

海军陆战队加油！加油！值此退伍军人节之际，向所有为国效力的人们致以最诚挚的谢意。

联系作者：Tyler@thedrive.com

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