Maurice Lay was born in 1890 in Birmingham, Alabama, husband of Mabel Ridge Lay. He had been stationed out of Pensacola, Fl. for a number of years, but had transferred to England in April of 1920. He served as a Chief Boatswain's Mate in the US Navy aboard R38/ZR-2 during World War I.
CBM Lay was killed when the experimental dirigible R-38 broke up and exploded in England on it 4th and final test flight prior to being purchased by the U.S. Navy from the British who built the airship. The intentions were for America to utilize this ship during WWI and become the main means of transportation in the future. A total of 44 men lost there lives 17 were Americans. Witnesses said it appeared to break in the middle and the front half exploded, the tail end fell in the Humber River, Hull, England, there were 4 survivors pulled from it. One being the pilot.
Cause of Explosion: Zepplins fly on hydrogen and as a result of their highly flammable lifting gas, it exploded over the river with thousands of spectators on the shore watching this amazing aircraft take off. No one on the shore-side were injured.
CBM Lay is now buried in the Green Hill Cemetery, Greensboro, Guilford County, North Carolina, USA.
Source of information: www.findagrave.com
Photo source: www.britishairshippeople.org.uk