The "Major in the RAF" clue really narrowed down the time frame, because the RAF used army ranks only briefly after replacing the RFC, and then the civil war clue pointed to Russia. It's astonishing how many RAF pilots who flew in that civil war later died in plane crashes.
I'll try hard to have a clue up by tomorrow. I wasn't going to participate in this quiz but couldn't resist when I saw where it was going. I probably won't be that sneaky, but not because I wouldn't like to be! Great quiz, Ernie.