Charles Findlay
| Charles Findlay | |
|---|---|
| Born |
22 June 1891 Glasgow, Scotland |
| Died | 1971 (aged 79–80) Kilcreggan, Scotland |
| Allegiance |
 United Kingdom
|
| Service/branch |
British Army Royal Air Force |
| Years of service | 1915–1946 |
| Rank | Group Captain |
| Service number | 04001 (RAF) |
| Unit |
52nd (Lowland Division) Highland Light Infantry No. 52 Training Squadron RFC No. 88 Squadron RAF |
| Commands held |
No. 9 Squadron RAF RAF Wyton |
| Battles/wars |
World War I World War II |
| Awards |
Distinguished Flying Cross Air Force Cross |
Group Captain Charles Findlay DFC AFC was a Scottish military officer. In World War I, he was a flying ace credited with fourteen aerial victories. He made the Royal Air Force his career, and served throughout World War II.
Charles Findlay was a married arts student in Glasgow when World War I began. He enlisted as a private in the Mounted Field Ambulance Section of the 52nd (Lowland) Division in March 1915, but then was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Highland Light Infantry's 6th Battalion, effective 8 September 1915. He was posted to the Highlanders at their base at Kantara, Egypt, and fought in their Sinai Campaign in December 1916. He then transferred to the Royal Flying Corps.
Findlay went for pilot training with 52 Squadron. As soon as he qualified as a pilot in May 1917, he was retained with the squadron as an instructor. Two months later, he was forwarded to the staff of the Gunnery School in Ayrshire. In early 1918, in response to his request, Findlay was posted to a fighter squadron assignment with 88 Squadron, then forming at RAF Kenley. The squadron took its new Bristol F.2 Fighters to France in April 1918. Findlay scored his first victory on 30 July 1918, driving a Pfalz D.III down out of control. Then, on 6 August, he scored the first of thirteen consecutive wins over Fokker D.VIIs, the Germans' newest fighter. On 11 August, he scored a quadruple victory, burning two Fokkers and driving two down. He ended his tally on 30 October 1918, with a double victory. In summary, he destroyed eleven enemy airplanes, setting six of them on fire; he also drove down three more out of control, all without his plane taking a single bullet hole.
Aerial victory was not Findlay's only contribution to his country's war effort; he also helped raid enemy aerodromes. He also experimented with wireless telegraphy between airplanes.
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