2Lt Walter Scott Goffe - RFC/RAF Airman - His Story

2/LT Walter Scott Goffe (known in the family as Scott) - 98th Squadron Royal Flying Corps/Royal Air Force

Born in Birmingham, Walter learnt to fly aircraft, before he learnt to drive cars. Walter joined the Royal Flying Corps as a pilot in 1916 probably training to fly from Castle Vale in Birmingham. In 1918 he joined the 199th Squadron, a unit originally setup as a day bomber unit. After this he was transferred to train pilots in the 2nd School of Fighting covering a range of aircraft and preparing pilots and observers for the war. 

Serial #           Aircraft          Unit                      Pilots/Observers

D.2203            D.H.9            98 Squadron         Lt W Goffe

                       D.H.9            98 Squadron         Sgt J L May

On the 16/6/1918 he was transferred to the 98th Squadron to fly the Airco DH.9 Serial D.2203 with his observer/rear gunner Sgt May. On the 8th of August 1918 Goffe set out with two other DH.9 bombers from the 98th sqn to bomb German Railway lines in Peronne this was the start of the battle of Amiens. On the morning of the 8th 2/LT Walter Goffe & Sgt. May were attacked by the German Jasta 37 fighter squadron and was shot down by German Ace Georg Meyer over the small town of St. Christ-Briost south of Peronne. The DH.9 suffered an engine fire as Goffe battled to bring the plane down safely, they landed in a farmers field and took refuge in a barn. Goffe suffered burns to his face, chest and arms from the engine fire, Sgt. May said to Goffe "I hope you don't mind me saying sir, but your face looks like a piece of roast beef!", he put straw into Walters mouth to stop it sealing up from the burns. Its not known how long they avoided capture but eventually they were caught. Walter ended up in a German hospital and vividly remembered the Doctor coming around and said he was"Kaput!", luckily for him (and me!) the German medical teams treated his wounds until his repatriation to British soil on the 5th January 1919 - Lt W Goffe was only 21. During Walters time in Germany he was visited in Hospital by Lt Georg Meyer who was the German Ace who shot him down, Georg gave Walter his Iron Cross and Pilots Sword as a gift, both of which survive in the family today.

The Iron Cross from Georg Meyer 

Scott's father looking for him through the Red Cross

Walter was first admitted to Angle-Chilean hospital, then onto the Sir John Ellermans before finally ending up at the world famous Queens Hospital Sidcups. Walter was treated by Major Harold Gillies who pioneered reconstructive surgery for First World War soldiers, navy and airmen who suffered terrible injuries - he is known as the father of modern plastic surgery. Walter was finally discharged on the 18/9/1920. Walter continued to fly aircraft training pilots between the war and working with the ATC in Stafford. During the outbreak of World War Two Walter transferred to the RAFVR and trained pilots to fly missions over Germany, Walter volunteered to fly bomber missions, but was denied, the RAF were worried his injuries would scare airmen he would be flying with, as far as I'm aware he never flew active missions during WW2. In 1941 he left full time RAF service and became head of the tax office in Stafford. Walter died in 1949 at his home in Stafford, England.

UPDATE October 2014 - I've recently visited the National Archives to view Scotts full war records, and sadly discovered that Sgt. May died on the day of the crash and buried in the German built East Cambrai cemetery, I'm unsure what he died of or how but I discovered a letter from the Canadian brother-in-law to Sgt. May who had written to the MOD in 1938 asking for the details of where Scott lived as he wanted to get back in touch after Scott wrote to Sgt. May's family after the war.

Walter Goffe (left) with two other airmen

Walter in his RAF uniform with his Wife Pat