Maxwell Findlay

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title: "Maxwell Findlay" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["1898-births", "1936-deaths", "military-personnel-from-aberdeen", "black-watch-soldiers", "royal-naval-air-service-aviators", "royal-air-force-personnel-of-world-war-i", "british-world-war-i-flying-aces", "scottish-flying-aces", "british-military-personnel-of-the-third-anglo-afghan-war", "british-military-personnel-of-the-waziristan-campaign", "recipients-of-the-distinguished-flying-cross-(united-kingdom)", "recipients-of-the-distinguished-service-cross-(united-kingdom)", "alumni-of-the-university-of-aberdeen", "aviators-killed-in-aviation-accidents-or-incidents", "victims-of-aviation-accidents-or-incidents-in-1936", "victims-of-aviation-accidents-or-incidents-in-zambia"] description: "Scottish World War I flying ace" topic_path: "history" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maxwell_Findlay" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Scottish World War I flying ace ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox military person"]

Field	Value
name	Maxwell Hutcheon Findlay
birth_date
death_date
birth_place	Aberdeen, Scotland
death_place	Abercorn, Northern Rhodesia
placeofburial_coordinates
allegiance	United Kingdom
branch	British Army
Royal Navy
Royal Air Force
serviceyears	1914–1920
rank	Captain
unit	Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment)
No. 6 Squadron RNAS
No. 1 Squadron RNAS/No. 201 Squadron RAF
battles	World War I
Third Anglo-Afghan War
Waziristan campaign
awards	Distinguished Service Cross
Distinguished Flying Cross
laterwork	Aviation sales manager and instructor; air racer
::

| name = Maxwell Hutcheon Findlay | image = | caption = | birth_date = | death_date = | birth_place = Aberdeen, Scotland | death_place = Abercorn, Northern Rhodesia | placeofburial_label = | placeofburial = | placeofburial_coordinates = | nickname = | allegiance = United Kingdom | branch = British Army Royal Navy Royal Air Force | serviceyears = 1914–1920 | rank = Captain | unit = Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) No. 6 Squadron RNAS No. 1 Squadron RNAS/No. 201 Squadron RAF | commands = | battles = World War I Third Anglo-Afghan War Waziristan campaign | awards =Distinguished Service Cross Distinguished Flying Cross | relations = | laterwork = Aviation sales manager and instructor; air racer Captain Maxwell Hutcheon Findlay (17 February 1898 – 1 October 1936) was a Scottish World War I flying ace credited with 14 aerial victories. He remained in the RAF postwar for several years before going on to a civilian aviation career that ended with his death in the Johannesburg Air Race of 1936.

Early life

Maxwell Hutcheon Findlay was born on Aberdeen, Scotland on 17 February 1898.

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 (Royal Highland Regiment). He later transferred to the Royal Naval Air Service, being promoted from probationary temporary flight officer to temporary flight sub-lieutenant on 16 April 1917. His first duty assignment, to No. 6 Naval Squadron, brought him two "out of control" victories over Albatros D.Vs in July and August 1917. He transferred to No. 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 shared win with Wallace, Charles Dawson Booker, Samuel Kinkead, James Henry Forman, Robert McLaughlin, Reginald Brading, R. Hemmens, and R. S. S. Orr. On 25 April 1918 he was appointed a temporary captain in the Royal Air Force.

Postwar career

On 1 August 1919 Findley was granted a permanent commission as a lieutenant in the RAF, and served in the Third Anglo-Afghan War and the Waziristan campaign. On 1 October 1920, Flying Officer Findlay resigned his commission and was permitted to retain the rank of flight lieutenant.

He then turned to farming in Scotland, gaining a first-class diploma in agriculture from Aberdeen University.

He also kept in touch with aviation; on 13 January 1925 Findlay was granted a commission in the RAF's Class "A" Reserves as a probationary flying officer, being confirmed in his rank on 13 July 1925. He relinquished his commission on completion of service on 13 January 1928, but was recommissioned as a flying officer in the Reserves on 11 May 1929.

In 1930 Findlay joined National Flying Services Ltd., serving as chief instructor until 1933. From there he went to Brooklands as an instructor and sales manager.

Findlay was killed on 1 October 1936, while taking part in The Schlesinger African Air Race, when his Airspeed Envoy crashed into trees on takeoff in Abercorn, Northern Rhodesia (now Mbala, Zambia).

Honours and awards

;Distinguished Service Cross :Flight Sub-Lieutenant Maxwell Hutcheon Findlay, RNAS. :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.

;Distinguished Flying Cross :Lieutenant (Temporary Captain) Maxwell Hutcheon Findlay, DSC. :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.

Endnotes

References

• Above the Trenches: A Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the British Empire Air Forces 1915–1920 (1990). Christopher F. Shores, Norman L. R. Franks, Russell Guest. Grub Street. , .

References

1. (2014). "Maxwell Hutcheon Findlay". The Aerodrome.
2. Shores, et al, p. 155.
3. {{London Gazette. (29 June 1917)
4. {{London Gazette. (7 May 1918)
5. {{London Gazette. (1 August 1919)
6. {{London Gazette. (1 October 1920)
7. (8 October 1936). "Maxwell Hutcheon Findlay". [[Flight International.
8. {{London Gazette. (13 January 1925)
9. {{London Gazette. (14 July 1925)
10. {{London Gazette. (20 March 1928)
11. {{London Gazette. (4 June 1929)
12. (8 October 1933). "One Out of Nine". [[Flight International.
13. Norway, Neville Shute. (1954). "[[Slide Rule: Autobiography of an Engineer". William Heinemann.
14. {{London Gazette. (16 April 1918)
15. {{London Gazette. (3 August 1918)

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