Flying Officer 147351 Ernest Douglas Scotland was born 22nd of May 1914 was baptised on the 5th of July at St Mary the Virgin Church, Haringey. The baptism register records the family address as 7, Pembury Road and that William was a marine engineer. The service was conducted by the Reverend A R Anderson.

In July 1939 at Edmonton, Essex, he married Irene L Ward. The couple had a daughter, Vivien.

The 1939 Register finds the couple at 4, Cedar Rise, Southgate, Middlesex. Ernest an assistant buyer for a gas company. Irene born the 18th of September 1913 was a shorthand typist. 

Ernest joined the RAFVR and commenced flying training. The London Gazette for the 27th of July, 1943 announced the appointment of Ernest to Pilot Officer.

He was posted to 571 Squadron at Oakington. 22nd October 1944. 571 Squadron despatched eleven aircraft to attack Hamburg, 45 Mosquitoes set out on the raid in 30% Moon returning crews reported heavy flak and accurate bombing.

Mosquito XVI PF395 8K-K with F/O 147351 Ernest Douglas Scotland and his navigator Sgt 1398223 Humphrey Rupert Cruse Soan took off from Oakington, Rutland at 16.56 with a 4000lb bomb load. The target was bombed and on the return leg the port engine failed due to a cylinder head gasket failure. The port engine drove much of the electrical and hydraulic equipment on the aircraft and as such the crew lost to use of their radio which was needed to safely guide the aircraft home. The crew became lost while flying in low cloud conditions. With no means of radio contact, there was no way of finding their location. At 21.23 the aircraft crashed into a rockface at Dovestone Rocks, Saddleworth Moor, near Oldham, Lancashire killing both men.

Note:

Mosquito PF395 had a history of engine and fuel supply problems. On the 29th of September, the aircraft had fuel flow problems on a sortie to Karlsruhe F/Lt 101030 Strathmere Folkes Beadman DFC (pilot) RAFVR and F/Lt NZ411385 Kenneth Henry Wilson Dixon DFC (nav.) RNZAF landed safely. On the night of the 1st/2nd of October, the aircraft suffered an engine failure on a sortie to Brunswick flown by F/Lt 60089 Ronald Ian Peter Mackenzie DFC (pilot) RAFVR and Sgt 1579954 Frederick Arthur John David (nav.) RAFVR landed safely.