George S. L. Hayward
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Tunbridge Wells, Kent, England
Digby, Lincolnshire, England
Royal Air Force
George Searle Lomax Hayward | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1 November 1894 Tunbridge Wells, Kent, England |
| Died | 16 August 1924 (aged 29) Digby, Lincolnshire, England |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Service | British Army Royal Air Force |
| Rank | Flying Officer |
| Unit | 3rd Hussars Royal West Kent Regiment No. 22 Squadron RFC/RAF |
| Battles / wars | |
| Awards | Military Cross |
Flying Officer George Searle Lomax Hayward MC (1 November 1894 – 16 August 1924) was an English World War I aerial observer credited with 24 victories. He served as an observer/gunner for fellow aces Frank Weare, Ernest Elton, and William Lewis Wells. Hayward scored the bulk of his wins, 22 of them, between 6 March and 22 April 1918, usually scoring two or three times in the same fight.[1]
Hayward originally enlisted in the 3rd Hussars, becoming a lance corporal. On 28 September 1916 he was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Royal West Kent Regiment.[2][3] In late 1917 he transferred to the Royal Flying Corps, being appointed a flying officer (observer) on 6 December, with seniority from 23 October.[4] Posted to No. 22 Squadron RFC, he scored twenty-four victories as an observer in the Bristol F.2 Fighter, between November 1917 and April 1918.[1]
| No. | Date | Opponent | Location | Pilot |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 29 November 1917 | Two-seater | North-west of Lille | 2nd Lieutenant W. G. Pudney |
| 2 | 6 December 1917 | Albatros D.V | Haubourdin | |
| 3 | 6 March 1918 | Albatros D.V | Douai | Sergeant Ernest Elton |
| 4 | Albatros D.V | South-east of Douai | ||
| 5 | 11 March 1918 | Albatros D.V | Vendeville–Faches | |
| 6 | Albatros D.V | Knokke | ||
| 7 | 13 March 1918 | Pfalz D.III | South-west of Lille | |
| 8 | Pfalz D.III | |||
| 9 | 16 March 1918 | Pfalz D.III | Oignies | Lieutenant William Wells |
| 10 | Pfalz D.III | |||
| 11 | Albatros D.V | Beaumont | ||
| 12 | 18 March 1918 | Albatros D.V | Carvin | 2nd Lieutenant Frank Weare |
| 13 | 24 March 1918 | Albatros D.V | Chérisy | |
| 14 | Albatros D.V | Vis-en-Artois | ||
| 15 | 26 March 1918 | Pfalz D.III | East of Albert | |
| 16 | Pfalz D.III | |||
| 17 | 29 March 1918 | Albatros D.V | Guillaucourt | |
| 18 | 2 April 1918 | Albatros D.V | Vauvillers | |
| 19 | Fokker Dr.I | |||
| 20 | 12 April 1918 | Pfalz D.III | South-west of Sailly | |
| 21 | Pfalz D.III | |||
| 22 | Pfalz D.III | Sailly | ||
| 23 | 22 April 1918 | Albatros D.V | East of Merville | |
| 24 | Albatros D.V | |||
In July 1918 he was awarded the Military Cross. His citation read:
- Temporary Second Lieutenant George Searle Lomax Hayward, Royal West Kent Regiment, attached Royal Flying Corps.
- For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. On three separate occasions when engaged with large hostile formations, he has attacked and sent crashing to earth two hostile machines on each occasion. He has displayed consistent skill, courage and determination in dealing with hostile aircraft.[5]