Wilfrid Reid May | |
---|---|
Born | Carberry, Manitoba, Canada | March 20, 1896
Died | June 21, 1952 American Fork, Utah, United States | (aged 56)
Buried | |
Allegiance | Canada United Kingdom |
Service | Canadian Army British Army Royal Air Force |
Years of service | 1916–1918 |
Rank | Captain |
Unit | No. 209 Squadron RAF |
Battles / wars | First World War |
Awards | Officer of the Order of the British Empire Distinguished Flying Cross Medal of Freedom (United States) |
Wilfrid Reid "Wop" May, OBE, DFC (March 20, 1896[1] – June 21, 1952) was a Canadian flying ace in the First World War and a leading post-war aviator. He was the final Allied pilot to be pursued by Manfred von Richthofen before the German ace was shot down on the Western Front in 1918. After the war, May returned to Canada, pioneering the role of a bush pilot while working for Canadian Airways in Northern Alberta and the Northwest Territories.