(B. 21 Feb 1880, D. 24 Aug 1921) Maitland was an early military aeronaut who served in the Air Battalion of the Royal Engineers and the Royal Flying Corps. Here he became an aeroplane pilot, but after a crash in which he broke both of his legs, he decided thereafter to work with the development of the Army airships Beta, Gamma, Delta, Eta, and AT3. He transferred to the Royal Naval Air Service when the Army decided not to pursue airships.
He was a pioneer parachutist who would not hesitate to find an excuse to make a jump from observation balloons, free balloons, or airships. An ardent proponent of the rigid airship, he flew several times on each rigid airship produced and flown in the UK.
He commanded Pulham Airship Station before being promoted to Air Commodore. Maitland was killed in the R38 disaster at Hull. When his body was found in the wreckage, his hands were still clinging to the ballast release toggles.