Arthur Stewart King Scarf and colleagues, No. 9 Flying Training School, RAF Thornaby, July 1936

Arthur Stewart King Scarf at No. 9 Flying Training School, RAF Thornaby, July 1936. As a pilot in 1941, Squadron Leader Arthur Stewart King Scarf was the only member of the RAF to be awarded the Victoria Cross for service in East Asia during the Second World War.

On 9 December 1941, Scarf was the first member of No. 62 Squadron to take-off from RAF Butterworth. The remainder of his squadron was destroyed on the ground. In the single surviving aircraft, Scarf proceeded to No. 62 Squadron’s target, a Japanese occupied airfield at Singora. After his successful attack, Scarf was mortally wounded by enemy fighters. Despite his injuries, Scarf returned his Bristol Blenheim to RAF Alor Star. Scarf’s crew survived.