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Name: Maxwell Hutcheon Findlay
Distinguished Service Cross (DSC)
Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC)
Photo courtesy of Mike Westrop
Country: Scotland
Rank: Captain
Service: Royal Naval Air Service
Royal Air Force
Units: 1N, 6N (RNAS)
201 (RAF)
Victories: 14
Born: 17 February 1898
Place of Birth: Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, Scotland
Died: October 1936 Killed In Flying Accident
Place of Death: Northern Rhodesia
 
 
Raised in the northeast of Scotland near Stonehaven, Findlay joined the Black Watch when war broke out. He transferred to the Royal Naval Air Service in 1917 and was posted to 6 Naval Squadron where he scored his first two victories flying the Sopwith Camel. He then joined 10 Naval Squadron and scored 12 more victories by the end of May 1918. Captain Findlay received Royal Aero Club Aviator's Certificate 6566 on a Sopwith biplane at military school, Freiston on 6 December 1918. Post-war, Findlay was killed in a crash during the Johannesburg Air Race of 1936.
Great Britain, Royal Aero Club Aviators' Certificates, 1910-1950
 
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.
 
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.
 
Victories
Date Time Unit Aircraft Opponent Location
1 22 Jul 1917 1750 6N Sopwith Camel (N6339) Albatros D.V (OOC) W of Steene
2 20 Aug 1917 0720 6N Sopwith Camel (N6339) Albatros D.V (OOC) Middelkerke
3 15 Nov 1917 1355 1N Sopwith Camel (B6419) Albatros D.V (OOC) N of Dixmude
4 04 Dec 1917 1115 1N Sopwith Camel (B6419) Albatros D.V (OOC) Houthoulst
5 08 Mar 1918 1400 1N Sopwith Camel (B6419) Albatros D.V (OOC) Roulers
6 10 Mar 1918 1530 1N Sopwith Camel (B6419) Albatros D.V (DES) NW of Menin
7 16 Mar 1918 1115 1N Sopwith Camel (B6419) Albatros D.V (DES) E of Roulers
8 16 Mar 1918 1625 1N Sopwith Camel (B6419) Albatros D.V (OOC) 1 E of Roulers
9 21 Mar 1918 0720 1N Sopwith Camel (B6419) Albatros D.V (DESF) SW of Nieuport
10 09 May 1918 1315 201 Sopwith Camel (B6431) Albatros D.V (DES) Bapaume
11 15 May 1918 0645 201 Sopwith Camel (B3884) Albatros D.V (DES) 2 Bapaume-Mory
12 17 May 1918 1900 201 Sopwith Camel (B3884) Albatros D.V (DES) SE of Arras
13 30 May 1918 1015 201 Sopwith Camel (D9589) C (OOC) NE of Albert
14 30 May 1918 1955 201 Sopwith Camel (D9589) Albatros D.V (OOC) Achiet le Grand

1 Shared with FSL Hazel Wallace
2 Shared with Maj Charles Booker, Capt Samuel Kinkead, Lt R Hemmens, Lt James Forman, Lt Robert McLaughlin, Lt Hazel Wallace, Lt Reginald Brading, Lt R S S Orr
 
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