Eldred Scott was born on September 29, 1907, in Atlanta, Georgia. He enlisted in the U.S. Army on September 9, 1924, and served as an Infantryman at Fort Hamilton, New York, until leaving active duty on January 16, 1925. PFC Scott again enlisted in the Army on September 20, 1929, and served as a Mechanic at March Field, California, from September 1929 to January 1930, and in the Philippines from January 1930 to February 1932. His next assignment was as a Mine Planter Oiler at March Field from February 1932 to September 1933, followed by service at Rockwell Field, California, from September 1933 to May 1934. Sgt Scott served as a Mine Planter Oiler at Fort Hughes and then at Fort Mills in the Philippines from May 1934 to June 1935, and then at Fort McDowell, California, from June 1935 until he left active duty on June 12, 1936. Sgt Scott enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps on April 14, 1937, and served as an aircraft mechanic at March Field from April 1937 to June 1940, and then at McChord Field, Washington, from June 1940 to June 1941. He next served as an aircraft mechanic at Pendleton Field, Oregon, from June 1941 until being selected for the Doolittle Mission in February 1942. TSgt Scott served as the Engineer-Gunner on the 9th B-25 to take off from the aircraft carrier USS Hornet (CV-8) on April 18, 1942, and after bombing their assigned targets in Tokyo, Japan, the crew bailed out over China when their aircraft ran out of fuel. After serving in Chun King, China, he returned to the United States in August 1942, and completed Officer Candidate School and was commissioned a 2d Lt in the U.S. Army Air Forces on April 21, 1943. His next assignment was as an aircraft maintenance officer at various Stateside bases before serving in England and France from February 1944 to February 1945. Capt Scott served as an Aircraft Maintenance Officer with the 321st Army Air Force Base Group at March Field, California, after World War II ended, and then served as a Tech Supply Officer with the 71st Fighter Squadron at March AFB from December 1947 to June 1949. His next assignment was as a Special Projects Officer and then as a Training Compliance Officer with the 1st Fighter Group at March from June 1949 to July 1950, followed by service as Officer in Charge of the Inspection Section and then as a Maintenance Control Officer with the 1st Maintenance Squadron at George AFB, California, from July 1950 to August 1951. Maj Scott served as a Material Officer with the 1st Fighter-Interceptor Group at George AFB from August to November 1951, and then as an Aircraft Maintenance Officer with the 94th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron at George AFB from November 1951 to April 1952. His next assignment was as Assistant Material Officer with the 51st Fighter-Interceptor Group at Suwon AB, South Korea, from April to June 1952, followed by service as an Aircraft Maintenance Officer with the 39th Fighter Interceptor Squadron at Suwon AB during June 1952. He served as an Aircraft Maintenance Officer with the 51st Fighter-Interceptor Wing at Suwon AB from the end of June 1952 to March 1953, and then served as an Aircraft Maintenance Officer with the 479th Fighter-Bomber Wing at George AFB from March 1953 to November 1954. Lt Col Scott's next assignment was as an Aircraft Maintenance Officer with the 413th Fighter-Day Group at George AFB from November 1954 to March 1956, followed by service as Commander of the 479th Field Maintenance Squadron at George from March 1956 to October 1957. He served as Commander of the 479th Consolidated Aircraft Maintenance Squadron at George AFB from October 1957 until he technically retired from the Air Force on November 1, 1958, although he immediately enlisted as an Aircraft Maintenance Technician and served in an enlisted statues with the 4510th Field Maintenance Squadron at Luke AFB, Arizona, from November 1958 until he left active duty on October 1, 1959. Eldred Scott died on July 31, 1978.

His Distinguished Flying Cross Citation reads:

For extraordinary achievement while participating in a highly destructive raid on the Japanese mainland on April 18, 1942. Sergeant Scott volunteered for this mission knowing full well that the chances of survival were extremely remote, and executed his part in it with great skill and daring. This achievement reflects high credit on Sergeant Scott and the military service.