Maxwell Findlay
Encyclopedia
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.
in 1917. His first duty assignment, to 6 Naval Squadron, brought him two "out of control" victories over Albatros D.V
s 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.
. 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.
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.
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.
Distinguished Service Cross (United Kingdom)
The Distinguished Service Cross is the third level military decoration awarded to officers, and other ranks, of the British Armed Forces, Royal Fleet Auxiliary and British Merchant Navy and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries.The DSC, which may be awarded posthumously, is...
, DFC
Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)
The Distinguished Flying Cross is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force and other services, and formerly to officers of other Commonwealth countries, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active operations against...
(1898–1936) was a World War I flying ace
Flying ace
A flying ace or fighter ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down several enemy aircraft during aerial combat. The actual number of aerial victories required to officially qualify as an "ace" has varied, but is usually considered to be five or more...
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.
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 ServiceRoyal Naval Air Service
The Royal Naval Air Service or RNAS was the air arm of the Royal Navy until near the end of the First World War, when it merged with the British Army's Royal Flying Corps to form a new service , the Royal Air Force...
in 1917. His first duty assignment, to 6 Naval Squadron, brought him two "out of control" victories over Albatros D.V
Albatros D.V
|-See also:-Bibliography:*Bennett, Leon. Gunning for the Red Baron. College Station, TX: Texas A&M University Press, 2006. ISBN 1-58544-507-X....
s in July and August 1917. He transferred to 1 Naval Squadron, and used a Sopwith Camel
Sopwith Camel
The Sopwith Camel was a British First World War single-seat biplane fighter introduced on the Western Front in 1917. Manufactured by Sopwith Aviation Company, it had a short-coupled fuselage, heavy, powerful rotary engine, and concentrated fire from twin synchronized machine guns. Though difficult...
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
Charles Dawson Booker
Major Charles Dawson Booker DSC was a World War I fighter ace credited with 29 victories. He was promoted to high rank while relatively young as a result of his gallantry and unswerving dedication to his country.-Early life:Charles Dawson Booker was born to Joseph Dawson and Rachel C...
, Samuel Kinkead
Samuel Kinkead
Samuel Marcus Kinkead DSO, DSC & Bar, DFC & Bar was a South African fighter ace Captain with 33 victories during World War I. He went on to serve in southern Russia and the Middle East postwar.-Early life:...
, James Henry Forman
James Henry Forman
James Henry Forman was born in Kirkfield, Ontario, Canada on 1 February 1896. When he enlisted in the Canadian Expeditionary Force on 29 June 1916, he gave his profession as minister and listed his mother Mary as his next of kin. He had three months prior military experience. He was six feet tall,...
, Robert McLaughlin
Robert McLaughlin (aviator)
Lieutenant Robert McLaughlin was a World War I flying ace credited with six aerial victories.McLaughlin destroyed two Albatros D.Vs and chased another down out of control during May 1918; he cooperated in one of the destructions with fellow aces Hazel LeRoy Wallace, Reginald Brading, James Henry...
, Reginald Brading
Reginald Brading
Captain Reginald Carey Brenton Brading was a World War I flying ace credited with thirteen confirmed aerial victories....
, R. Hemmens, and R. S. S. Orr.
Post World War I
Findlay stayed in the Royal Air Force for a couple of years after war's end, serving in Afghanistan and WaziristanWaziristan
Waziristan is a mountainous region near the Northwest of Pakistan, bordering Afghanistan and covering some 11,585 km² . The area is entirely populated by ethnic Pashtuns . The language spoken in the valley is Pashto/Pakhto...
. 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
Brooklands
Brooklands was a motor racing circuit and aerodrome built near Weybridge in Surrey, England. It opened in 1907, and was the world's first purpose-built motorsport venue, as well as one of Britain's first airfields...
School of Flying. In October 1936, he entered an Airspeed Envoy
Airspeed Envoy
The Airspeed AS.6 Envoy was a British light, twin-engined transport aircraft designed and built by Airspeed Ltd. in the 1930s at Portsmouth Aerodrome, Hampshire.-Development and design:...
in the Johannesburg Air Race, during the race he died when the Envoy hit a tree on takeoff in northern Rhodesia.
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.
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.
Reference
- Above the Trenches: A Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the British Empire Air Forces 1915-1920 Christopher F. Shores, Norman L. R. Franks, Russell Guest. Grub Street, 1990. ISBN 0-948817-19-4, 9780948817199.