Squadron Leader Walter Macfarlane Carlaw DFC (8 March 1899 – 24 November 1956) was a Scottish flying ace who served during World War I, and was credited with 12 confirmed aerial victories.
[2] Posted to 70 Squadron in early 1918, his first success came three days after his nineteenth birthday, on 11 March 1918; he was one of four pilots credited with destroying a German observation balloon over Menen, Belgium.
[3] The citation read: On 17 January 1919 Carlaw was transferred to the unemployed list,[6] returning to Glasgow to have a successful career as a mechanical engineer.
[1] Carlaw returned to the colours during World War II, being commissioned into the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve on 28 November 1941, as a probationary acting-pilot officer in the Administrative and Special Duties Branch,[7] being confirmed in the rank on 28 January 1942.
[10] After the war Carlaw remained on the list of reserve officers until relinquishing his commission on 10 February 1954, and was granted permission to retain the rank of squadron leader.