Maxwell Findlay

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.

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.

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.

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 8 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.