Gerald Maxwell

Gerald Joseph Constable Maxwell (8 September 1895 – 18 December 1959) was a British First World War flying ace credited with twenty-six aerial victories.

Background Maxwell was born in Beauly near Inverness, Scotland, to the Honourable Bernard Constable-Maxwell (son of William Constable-Maxwell, 10th Lord Herries of Terregles) and the Honourable Alice Fraser (daughter of Simon Fraser, 13th Lord Lovat), both of whom were scions of notable Scottish recusant families. He was educated at Downside School. Four days later he was hit by anti-aircraft fire and crashed unhurt.

On 26 July 1917, Maxwell was appointed a flight commander, by which time he had been credited with eight victories. He was awarded the Military Cross on 18 October and was posted back to the UK. After instructing at the School of Aerial Fighting at Turnberry, he returned to No. 56 Squadron, where in six weeks he claimed six more victories.

His confirmed 26 victories consisted of 12 enemy aircraft destroyed (including two shared wins), and 14 "out of control" victories, six of which were shared. In scoring the shared victories, he teamed with such other aces as Cecil Lewis, Edric Broadberry, Charles Jeffs, and Cyril Crowe.

Maxwell was granted a permanent commission as a captain in the Royal Air Force on 1 August 1919, relinquishing his commission in the 1st Lovat's Scouts, Territorial Force, the same day. On 29 August 1919 he was appointed a temporary Staff Officer, 3rd Class (Air), to serve at the Air Ministry. He was placed on the half-pay list between 1 February and 1 April 1920, and on 14 February 1921 resigned his permanent commission, and was granted the rank of major.

He later became a director of Maxwell-Chrysler Motors. ); married The Honourable Miles Fitzalan-Howard (1915–2002) who became the 17th Duke of Norfolk in 1975, had five children, including the 18th Duke of Norfolk and actress Marsha Fitzalan. Veronica Diana Margaret Constable Maxwell (b. 15 December 1930); married with three children. Carolyn Mary Constable Maxwell (b. 23 August 1938); married to Major Count Charles John Fane de Salis (grandson of John Francis Charles, 7th Count de Salis-Soglio), four daughters. Rosemary Isabel Constable Maxwell (b. 21 August 1941); married with five children. Peter George Constable Maxwell (b. 18 January 1944); married with four children.

Maxwell died at Old Alresford House, Old Alresford, near Winchester on 18 December 1959 aged 64.

Distinguished Flying Cross Captain 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 had 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."