Arthur Stewart King Scarf
Squadron Leader, 62 Squadron. Royal Air Force
- Register No.
- 1112 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Squadron Leader all Squadron Leaders →
- Unit
- 62 Squadron. Royal Air Force (register: No. 62 Squadron RAF) all No. 62 Squadron RAF VCs →
- Date of action
- 9 December 1941 on this day → all of 1941 →
- Conflict / campaign
- Second World War
- London Gazette
- 21st June 1946 on this day → all of 1946 →
- Born
- 14th June 1913 at Wimbledon, Surrey
- Award
- Posthumous all posthumous VCs →
- Memorial / grave
- at Taiping War Cemetery, Malaya
- Medal held by
- the Royal Air Force Museum, Hendon
Digest of citation
On the 9th December 1941, all available aircraft at RAF Butterworth, Malaya were ordered to make a daylight attack on the Japanese base at Singora, Thailand. The aircraft, all Blenheims, were on the point of taking off when there was a combined dive-bombing and low level machine-gun attack on the airfield. All the British aircraft, except the one flown by Squadron Leader Scarf, were destroyed. After circling the airfield, instead of returning to base, he decided to go on with the mission to Singora alone. After completing his attack successfully, the opposition from anti-aircraft guns and fighters, during which Squadron Leader Scarf was mortally wounded, was extremely heavy. He was hounded by enemy fighters right up to the Malayan border. Because of his wounds, he was unable to return to RAF Butterworth, but was able to make a successful forced landing at Alor Star, without causing any injuries to his crew. He died very shortly after being admitted to hospital
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
SCARF, Arthur Stewart King. (reg No. 1112).
Squadron Leader. 62 Squadron. Royal Air Force.
London Gazetted on 21st June 1946.
VC Medal's Custodian is the Royal Air Force Museum, Hendon.
Born on 14th June 1913 at Wimbledon, Surrey.
Died from his wounds on 9th December 1941 at Alor Star, Malaya.
Memorial on grave at Taiping War Cemetery, Malaya.
Digest of Citation reads: On the 9th December 1941, all available aircraft at RAF Butterworth, Malaya were ordered to make a daylight attack on the Japanese base at Singora, Thailand. The aircraft, all Blenheims, were on the point of taking off when there was a combined dive-bombing and low level machine-gun attack on the airfield. All the British aircraft, except the one flown by Squadron Leader Scarf, were destroyed. After circling the airfield, instead of returning to base, he decided to go on with the mission to Singora alone. After completing his attack successfully, the opposition from anti-aircraft guns and fighters, during which Squadron Leader Scarf was mortally wounded, was extremely heavy. He was hounded by enemy fighters right up to the Malayan border. Because of his wounds, he was unable to return to RAF Butterworth, but was able to make a successful forced landing at Alor Star, without causing any injuries to his crew. He died very shortly after being admitted to hospital.
Additional information:. When he reached Alor Star, he was lifted from his cockpit by his turret-gunner, Flight Sergeant Rich and his bomb-aimer, Flight Sergeant Calder. It is said that he lived long enough to be united with his wife, an army nurse, before he died. His Victoria Cross was not gazetted until the 21st June 1946, as records were lost and destroyed, to prevent them dropping into the Japanese hands.
Additional information
When he reached Alor Star, he was lifted from his cockpit by his turret-gunner, Flight Sergeant Rich and his bomb-aimer, Flight Sergeant Calder. It is said that he lived long enough to be united with his wife, an army nurse, before he died. His Victoria Cross was not gazetted until the 21st June 1946, as records were lost and destroyed, to prevent them dropping into the Japanese hands.
Died from his wounds on 9th December 1941 at Alor Star, Malaya.
Visit the grave or memorial
Alf recorded the memorial as: at Taiping War Cemetery, Malaya
Map links open a search for the place name Alf recorded; please check opening times and exact locations before travelling. Many VC graves have since been restored by the Victoria Cross Trust.
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