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| Name: |
Gerald Joseph Constable Maxwell |
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| Country: |
Scotland |
| Rank: |
Major |
| Service: |
Royal Flying Corps |
| Units: |
56 |
| Victories: |
26 |
| Born: |
08 September 1895 |
| Place of Birth: |
Inverness |
| Died: |
18 December 1959 |
| Place of Death: |
Winchester, Hampshire |
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The nephew of Lord Lovat, Maxwell was commissioned at the beginning of World War I. He fought at Gallipoli and served in Egypt before transferring to the Royal Flying Corps in September 1916. During pilot training that year, he received only 22 minutes of dual instruction before he soloed for the first time on 11 December. Posted to 56 Squadron in March 1917, he was assigned to A Flight under Albert Ball, scoring his first victory during his first patrol over the lines on 24 April 1917. Flying the S.E.5a, Maxwell scored 20 victories before returning to England on 21 October 1917. After serving as an instructor at Turnberry, he rejoined 56 Squadron in the summer of 1918, scoring 6 more victories during June and July. When the war was over, he joined the Stock Exchange but returned to service during World War II, commanding a night fighter squadron and attaining the rank of Wing Commander in the Royal Air Force. Wing Commander Gerald Maxwell died at the age of 60 in 1959.
Gerald Maxwell's younger brother Michael also served in the RAF during World War II and became an ace. |
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| Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) |
Capt. Gerald Joseph Constable Maxwell, M.C.
This officer has at all times shown exceptional skill and gallantry, and on numerous occasions has fought against greatly superior numbers. During the last six weeks he has brought down five enemy aeroplanes. Recently, he approached unobserved to within ten yards of three Fokker triplanes, one of which he shot down. He was chased for about nine miles by the remaining two until he met a formation of six Camels; these he led to attack some enemy aircraft, although he had only twenty-five minutes petrol left.
Supplement to the London Gazette, 3 August 1918 (30827/9202) |
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| Victories |
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Date |
Time |
Unit |
Aircraft |
Opponent |
Location |
| 1 |
24 Apr 1917 |
1515 |
56 |
S.E.5 (A4863) |
Albatros D.II (OOC) 1 |
Hamel |
| 2 |
04 May 1917 |
1850-2000 |
56 |
S.E.5 (A8902) |
Albatros D.II (OOC) |
Souchy Lestree |
| 3 |
11 May 1917 |
0600-0810 |
56 |
S.E.5 (A8902) |
Albatros D.III (OOC) 2 |
Pont a Vendin |
| 4 |
12 May 1917 |
0845 |
56 |
S.E.5 (A8902) |
Albatros D.III (OOC) 3 |
E of Lens |
| 5 |
15 Jun 1917 |
1315 |
56 |
S.E.5 (A8921) |
Albatros C (DES) 4 |
Fort Carnot |
| 6 |
20 Jul 1917 |
1915-1945 |
56 |
S.E.5a (B502) |
Albatros D.V (OOC) |
Houthoulst Forest-Roulers |
| 7 |
20 Jul 1917 |
1915-1945 |
56 |
S.E.5a (B502) |
Albatros D.V (OOC) |
Houthoulst Forest-Roulers |
| 8 |
26 Jul 1917 |
1930-2030 |
56 |
S.E.5a (B502) |
C (OOC) |
NE of Ypres |
| 9 |
14 Aug 1917 |
1730-1830 |
56 |
S.E.5a (B502) |
C (OOC) 5 |
E of Westroosebeke |
| 10 |
18 Aug 1917 |
0630-0710 |
56 |
S.E.5a (B502) |
Albatros D.V (OOC) |
Menin |
| 11 |
18 Aug 1917 |
0630-0710 |
56 |
S.E.5a (B502) |
Albatros D.V (OOC) 6 |
Menin |
| 12 |
21 Aug 1917 |
1830-1900 |
56 |
S.E.5a (B502) |
Albatros D.V (DES) |
N of Thorout |
| 13 |
22 Aug 1917 |
0615-0715 |
56 |
S.E.5a (B502) |
Albatros D.V (DES) |
E of Houthoulst Forest |
| 14 |
22 Aug 1917 |
0615-0715 |
56 |
S.E.5a (B502) |
Albatros D.V (DES) |
E of Houthoulst Forest |
| 15 |
11 Sep 1917 |
0700-0815 |
56 |
S.E.5a (B527) |
C (OOC) |
E of Houthoulst Forest |
| 16 |
20 Sep 1917 |
1115-1200 |
56 |
S.E.5a (B502) |
C (OOC) |
E of Ypres |
| 17 |
21 Sep 1917 |
0845-0900 |
56 |
S.E.5a (B502) |
C (DES) |
Verlinghem |
| 18 |
29 Sep 1917 |
1750-1810 |
56 |
S.E.5a (B2) |
Albatros D.V (DES) |
Staden |
| 19 |
29 Sep 1917 |
1750-1810 |
56 |
S.E.5a (B2) |
Albatros D.V (OOC) 7 |
Staden |
| 20 |
30 Sep 1917 |
1730-1800 |
56 |
S.E.5a (B502) |
Albatros D.V (OOC) |
Comines |
| 21 |
16 Jun 1918 |
0520 |
56 |
S.E.5a (B8402) |
C (DES) |
Hamlincourt |
| 22 |
16 Jun 1918 |
0730 |
56 |
S.E.5a (B8402) |
C (DES) |
Wancourt |
| 23 |
27 Jun 1918 |
1945 |
56 |
S.E.5a (D6126) |
Fokker DR.I (OOC) |
Péronne |
| 24 |
28 Jun 1918 |
2010 |
56 |
S.E.5a (D6126) |
Fokker D.VII (DES) |
Dompierre |
| 25 |
01 Jul 1918 |
0540 |
56 |
S.E.5a (D6126) |
Fokker DR.I (DES) 8 |
NE of Albert |
| 26 |
05 Jul 1918 |
2030 |
56 |
S.E.5a (D6126) |
Fokker D.VII (DES) |
Dompierre |
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| 1 |
Shared with Lt CRW Knight (A4855) |
| 2 |
Shared with Lt Cecil Lewis |
| 3 |
Shared with Capt Edric Broadberry, Lt EA Lloyd |
| 4 |
Shared with Capt Phillip Prothero |
| 5 |
Shared with 2/Lt Robert Sloley |
| 6 |
Shared with Lt ELL Turnbull (A8946), Lt DS Wilkinson (B521), 2/Lt Robert Sloley, 2/Lt WJ Potts (B4857), Capt HM Rushworth (B517) |
| 7 |
Shared with Lt Robert Sloley, Lt HA Johnston (B12), Lt Charles Jeffs, Lt RW Young (A8946), Lt RJ Preston-Cobb (B527) |
| 8 |
Shared with Capt Cyril Crowe |
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| Books |
- The Vivid Air
- Gerald and Michael Constable Maxwell; fighting pilots in Both World Wars; Alex Revell / Unknown Binding / Kimber
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