Maxwell Findlay

Maxwell Hutcheon Findlay
Born 17 February 1898(1898-02-17)
Aberdeen, Scotland
Died 1 October 1936(1936-10-01) (aged 38)
Northern Rhodesia
Allegiance  United Kingdom
Service/branch Infantry; aviation
Years of service 1914 - 1921
Rank Captain
Unit Black Watch, No. 6 Squadron RNAS, No. 1 Squadron RNAS
Awards Distinguished Service Cross, Distinguished Flying Cross
Other work Aviation sales manager and instructor; air racer

Captain Maxwell Hutcheon Findlay DSC, DFC (1898–1936) was a World War I flying ace credited with 14 aerial victories. He remained in the RAF postwar for a couple of years before going on to a civilian aviation career that ended with his death in the Johannesburg Air Race of 1936.[1]

Contents

World War I

Findlay was a Scotsman living in Canada when World War I began. He returned to the British Isles to enlist in the Black Watch. He later transferred to the Royal Naval Air Service in 1917. His first duty assignment, to 6 Naval Squadron, brought him two "out of control" victories over Albatros D.Vs in July and August 1917. He transferred to 1 Naval Squadron, and used a Sopwith Camel to score three more "out of control" wins on 15 November and 4 December 1917, as well as on 8 March 1918, to become an ace. On 10 March, he destroyed an Albatros D.V. On the 16th, his second win was shared with Hazel LeRoy Wallace. By 30 May, his score was 14, including a win that was a mass win shared with Wallace, Charles Dawson Booker, Samuel Kinkead, James Henry Forman, Robert McLaughlin, Reginald Brading, R. Hemmens, and R. S. S. Orr.[2][3]

Post World War I

Findlay stayed in the Royal Air Force for a couple of years after war's end, serving in Afghanistan and Waziristan. He retired from the RAF in 1921 and went to farming. He also kept in touch with aviation; in the 1930s, he became the sales manager and instructor at the Brooklands School of Flying. In October 1936, he entered an Airspeed Envoy in the Johannesburg Air Race, during the race he died when the Envoy hit a tree on takeoff in northern Rhodesia.[4]

Honors and awards

Text of citation for Distinguished Service Cross (DSC)

Flt. Sub-Lieut.. Maxwell Hutcheon Findlay, R.N.A.S.

For the courage and daring displayed by him as a pilot. On the 8th March, 1918, whilst on patrol, he engaged an Albatross scout, firing effectively from very close range. The enemy aircraft went down completely out of control. He has also destroyed or driven down out of control many other enemy machines.[5]

Text of citation for Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC)

Lt. (temp. Capt.) Maxwell Hutcheon Findlay, D.S.C.

A skilful and courageous patrol leader.

During the past few months this officer has destroyed seven enemy machines and brought down seven more out of control. On one occasion he fought an enemy machine from 18,000 feet down to an altitude of 10,000 feet, at which point he gained an advantage and destroyed his antagonist.[6]

Sources of information

  1. ^ Above the Trenches: A Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the British Empire Air Forces 1915-1920. p. 155. 
  2. ^ Above the Trenches: A Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the British Empire Air Forces 1915-1920. p. 155. 
  3. ^ http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/scotland/findlay3.php Retrieved on 7 June 2010.
  4. ^ Above the Trenches: A Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the British Empire Air Forces 1915-1920. p. 155. 
  5. ^ (Supplement to the London Gazette, 17 April 1918) http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/30635/supplements/4647 Retrieved on 7 June 2010.
  6. ^ (Supplement to the London Gazette, 3 August 1918) http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/30827/supplements/9199 Retrieved on 7 June 2010.

Reference