Finlay McQuistan

Captain Finlay McQuistan[note 1] DFC (4 October 1896 – 4 September 1950) was a Scottish World War I flying ace who was credited with 11 aerial victories.[1]

Finlay McQuistan
Born(1896-10-04)4 October 1896
Greenock West, Renfrewshire, Scotland
Died4 September 1950(1950-09-04) (aged 53)
Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Scotland
AllegianceUnited Kingdom
Service/branchBritish Army
Royal Air Force
RankCaptain
UnitIII Highland (Howitzer) Brigade, RFA
No. 12 Squadron RFC
No. 55 Squadron RFC
No. 19 Squadron RFC
Battles/warsWorld War I
 • Western Front
AwardsDistinguished Flying Cross

Early life

Finlay McQuistan was the son of Finlay and Agnes J. McQuistan,[1] and was born on 4 October 1896[2] in Greenock West, Scotland.[1]

World War I service
See also: Aerial victory standards of World War I

On 26 June 1916, he was seconded from duty with the III Highland (Howitzer) Brigade, Royal Field Artillery, part of the 51st (Highland) Division, to the Royal Flying Corps as a second lieutenant[1][3] and flying officer.[4] He was assigned to No. 12 Squadron RFC to fly[1] a B.E.2 two-seater reconnaissance machine.[5] A wounding in September ended this posting.[1]

His next assignment, in March 1917, was to No. 55 Squadron RFC. On 9 June, he used a two-seater Airco DH.4 to score his first victory, being wounded again in the process.[1] On 27 June, he was promoted to lieutenant,[6] and 25 August, was appointed a flight commander with the temporary rank of captain.[7]

On 1 March 1918, he reverted from the post of flight commander and rank of captain, with his seniority set back to 26 June 1916.[8] This was probably as a result of transferring to No. 19 Squadron,[1] where he could fly the new Sopwith Dolphin single-seat fighter.[9] On 17 May, he scored his second victory.[1] He was appointed flight commander and temporary captain again on 9 August,[10] and by 5 October, he had added nine more victories, only one of which was a shared, with Gordon Budd Irving, John De Pencier, and Cecil Gardner. McQuistan's final tally was two German fighters set afire, another German aircraft destroyed, and eight sent down out of control.[1][11]

Postwar

On 24 October 1919, he was granted a short service commission as a flying officer.[12] On 20 March 1922, he was removed from the Royal Air Force.[13]

Finlay McQuistan was living at Corrieview, Queen-Street, Kirkintilloch, Scotland when he died on 4 September 1950.[14]

Honours and awards
Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC)
Lieutenant (Acting Captain) Finlay McQuistan.
"By his example of determination and courage Capt. McQuistan has inspired the greatest confidence in the other pilots of his squadron. He has led over 30 squadron offensive patrols, and the success attained by his squadron during the past three months is largely due to his skilful leadership. This officer has destroyed or driven down out of control nine enemy machines."[15]

Notes
  1. His first name his sometimes given as Finley and his last as McQuiston in various sources.

References
  1. "Finlay McQuistan". The Aerodrome. 2015. Retrieved 10 June 2015.
  2. "Births". Greenock Telegraph. 5 November 1896. Retrieved 9 March 2010.
  3. "No. 29670". The London Gazette (Supplement). 17 July 1916. p. 7082.
  4. "No. 29671". The London Gazette. 18 July 1916. p. 7097.
  5. "12 Squadron". The Aerodrome. 2015. Retrieved 10 June 2015.
  6. "No. 30151". The London Gazette (Supplement). 26 June 1917. p. 6360.
  7. "No. 30354". The London Gazette (Supplement). 27 October 1917. p. 11092.
  8. "No. 30612". The London Gazette (Supplement). 5 April 1918. p. 4112.
  9. "Sopwith Dolphin". The Aerodrome. 2015. Retrieved 10 June 2015.
  10. "No. 30846". The London Gazette. 16 August 1918. p. 9578.
  11. Above the Trenches: a Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the British Empire Air Forces 1915–1920, p. 277.
  12. "No. 31616". The London Gazette. 24 October 1919. p. 13033.
  13. "No. 32722". The London Gazette. 23 June 1922. p. 4728.
  14. "McQuistan probate". The Aerodrome. 2017. Retrieved 21 December 2017.
  15. "No. 31170". The London Gazette. 8 February 1919. p. 2043.

Bibliography
  • Shores, Christopher F.; Franks, Norman & Guest, Russell F. (1990). Above the Trenches: a Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the British Empire Air Forces 1915–1920. London, UK: Grub Street. ISBN 978-0-948817-19-9.
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