top of page
MAY
Francis Stanley MAY
1. Name
2. Date Commissioned
3. Date Retired
4. Rank
5. Awarded Wings
6. Flying Schools
7. Aircraft Types Flown
8. Squadrons
9. Aircraft Carriers
10. Senior Appointments
11. Decorations
12. General
Francis Stanley MAY
1 January 1929
Killed in flying accident, Malta, 7 Sept 1936
Killed in flying accident, Malta, 7 Sept 1936
May 1934
R.A.F. Leuchars 17 September 1933
Fighters. Hawk variants. Nimrod, Osprey
802 Sqn Courageous 7 September 1934 to 31 December 1934
802 Sqn 1 January 1935 to 22 July 1935
802 Sqn Glorious 23 July 1935 to 7 September 1936
Courageous
Glorious
None
None - killed
May learned to fly in 1933 and qualified as a fighter pilot. He was posted to 802 Squadron on 7 September 1934 and flew in this squadron from Courageous and Glorious.
Exactly two years after joining the squadron he was killed at Hal Far on 7 Sept 1936. It seems that whilst taking off from Hal Far airfield in Malta his engine failed and he committed the one error all pilots are warned against - he attempted to turn back instead of landing straight ahead. As a result he stalled and spun into the ground. He was buried at sea off Malta from H.M.S. Glorious on 8 September 1936.
Flying Marines
A History of Royal Marines Aviation
bottom of page