Charles M. Maud
Encyclopedia
Captain Charles Midgley Maud was an English World War I flying ace
credited with 11 confirmed victories. After going into business post World War I, he returned to his nation's service for World War II, and served until 1954, rising to the rank of Wing Commander.
pilot. On 1 May 1918, he scored his first aerial victory when he destroyed an opposing Albatros D.III
southwest of Conegliano
. By 20 May, he was an ace, having driven down an Albatros D.V
on that day for his fifth win. By 7 October 1918, he had run his total to 11; his tally amounted to five enemy reconnaissance planes and three fighters destroyed, with another three enemy planes driven down out of control. His feats earned him a Distinguished Flying Cross, which was gazetted on 7 November 1918.
.
On 31 December 1929, he broke up his partnership as a wool broker
and left the family firm.
5 September 1939, he was confirmed in appointment as an officer and promoted to Pilot Officer
.
Although Maud was mentioned in despatches on 1 January 1940 as a Squadron Leader
, it was not until 22 October 1943 that he was promoted to that rank in the Administrative and Special Duties Branch of the Royal Air Force.
He would serve until 10 February 1954, when he resigned his reserve commission as Squadron Leader; he was allowed to retain the rank of Wing Commander
in his retirement.
Flying ace
A flying ace or fighter ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down several enemy aircraft during aerial combat. The actual number of aerial victories required to officially qualify as an "ace" has varied, but is usually considered to be five or more...
credited with 11 confirmed victories. After going into business post World War I, he returned to his nation's service for World War II, and served until 1954, rising to the rank of Wing Commander.
World War I
By mid-1918, Maud had been posted to 66 Squadron in Italy as a Sopwith CamelSopwith Camel
The Sopwith Camel was a British First World War single-seat biplane fighter introduced on the Western Front in 1917. Manufactured by Sopwith Aviation Company, it had a short-coupled fuselage, heavy, powerful rotary engine, and concentrated fire from twin synchronized machine guns. Though difficult...
pilot. On 1 May 1918, he scored his first aerial victory when he destroyed an opposing Albatros D.III
Albatros D.III
The Albatros D.III was a biplane fighter aircraft used by the Imperial German Army Air Service and the Austro-Hungarian Air Service during World War I. The D.III was flown by many top German aces, including Manfred von Richthofen, Ernst Udet, Erich Löwenhardt, Kurt Wolff, and Karl Emil Schäfer...
southwest of Conegliano
Conegliano
Conegliano is a town and comune of the Veneto region, Italy, in the province of Treviso, about north by rail from the town of Treviso. The population of the city is of around 36,000 people. The remains of a castle that was built in the 10th century remain on a nearby hill...
. By 20 May, he was an ace, having driven down an Albatros D.V
Albatros D.V
|-See also:-Bibliography:*Bennett, Leon. Gunning for the Red Baron. College Station, TX: Texas A&M University Press, 2006. ISBN 1-58544-507-X....
on that day for his fifth win. By 7 October 1918, he had run his total to 11; his tally amounted to five enemy reconnaissance planes and three fighters destroyed, with another three enemy planes driven down out of control. His feats earned him a Distinguished Flying Cross, which was gazetted on 7 November 1918.
Post World War I
On 22 July 1921, Maud resigned his short service commission as lieutenant (acting captain) to join the Territorial ForceTerritorial Force
The Territorial Force was the volunteer reserve component of the British Army from 1908 to 1920, when it became the Territorial Army.-Origins:...
.
On 31 December 1929, he broke up his partnership as a wool broker
Broker
A broker is a party that arranges transactions between a buyer and a seller, and gets a commission when the deal is executed. A broker who also acts as a seller or as a buyer becomes a principal party to the deal...
and left the family firm.
World War II and beyond
At the beginning of World War II, Maud returned to England's service. On either 12 August 1939 or5 September 1939, he was confirmed in appointment as an officer and promoted to Pilot Officer
Pilot Officer
Pilot officer is the lowest commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many other Commonwealth countries. It ranks immediately below flying officer...
.
Although Maud was mentioned in despatches on 1 January 1940 as a Squadron Leader
Squadron Leader
Squadron Leader is a commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence. It is also sometimes used as the English translation of an equivalent rank in countries which have a non-English air force-specific rank structure. In these...
, it was not until 22 October 1943 that he was promoted to that rank in the Administrative and Special Duties Branch of the Royal Air Force.
He would serve until 10 February 1954, when he resigned his reserve commission as Squadron Leader; he was allowed to retain the rank of Wing Commander
Wing Commander (rank)
Wing commander is a commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many other Commonwealth countries...
in his retirement.