Flying Officer George Searle Lomax Hayward (1 November 1894 – 16 August 1924) was an English World War I aerial observer credited with 24 victories. He served as an observer/gunner for fellow aces Frank Weare, Ernest Elton, and William Lewis Wells. Hayward scored the bulk of his wins, 22 of them, between 6 March and 22 April 1918, usually scoring two or three times in the same fight.

World War I service Hayward originally enlisted in the 3rd Hussars, becoming a lance corporal. On 28 September 1916 he was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Royal West Kent Regiment. In late 1917 he transferred to the Royal Flying Corps, being appointed a flying officer (observer) on 6 December, with seniority from 23 October. Posted to No. 22 Squadron RFC, he scored twenty-four victories as an observer in the Bristol F.2 Fighter, between November 1917 and April 1918.

+List of aerial victoriesNo. Date Opponent Location Pilot 1 29 November 1917 Two-seater North-west of Lille 2nd Lieutenant W. G. Pudney 2 6 December 1917 Albatros D.V Haubourdin 3 6 March 1918 Albatros D.V Douai Sergeant Ernest Elton 4 Albatros D.V South-east of Douai 5 11 March 1918 Albatros D.V Vendeville–Faches 6 Albatros D.V Knokke 7 13 March 1918 Pfalz D.III South-west of Lille 8 Pfalz D.III 9 16 March 1918 Pfalz D.III Oignies Lieutenant William Wells10 Pfalz D.III 11 Albatros D.V Beaumont 12 18 March 1918 Albatros D.V Carvin 2nd Lieutenant Frank Weare13 24 March 1918 Albatros D.V Chérisy 14 Albatros D.V Vis-en-Artois 15 26 March 1918 Pfalz D.III East of Albert 16 Pfalz D.III 17 29 March 1918 Albatros D.V Guillaucourt 18 2 April 1918 Albatros D.V Vauvillers 19 Fokker Dr.I 20 12 April 1918 Pfalz D.III South-west of Sailly 21 Pfalz D.III 22 Pfalz D.III Sailly 23 22 April 1918 Albatros D.V East of Merville 24 Albatros D.V

In July 1918 he was awarded the Military Cross. His citation read: Temporary Second Lieutenant George Searle Lomax Hayward, Royal West Kent Regiment, attached Royal Flying Corps. For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. On three separate occasions when engaged with large hostile formations, he has attacked and sent crashing to earth two hostile machines on each occasion. He has displayed consistent skill, courage and determination in dealing with hostile aircraft.

Post-war career Hayward left the Royal Air Force on 17 May 1919, when he was transferred to the unemployed list. However, on 24 October 1919 he was granted a short-service commission in the RAF as an observer officer.

By early 1920 he was in India surveying the main civil air route between Delhi and Karachi. On 1 December 1923 Hayward, by now a Flying Officer, was posted to the RAF Depot, pending assignment, and on 1 March 1924 he was posted to No. 2 Flying Training School at RAF Duxford.

Death No.2 FTS moved to RAF Digby, Lincolnshire, in June 1924. There, on 15 August, Hayward was instructing Pilot Officer Charles Victor Breakey in an Avro 504K, when their aircraft suffered an engine failure and plunged into the ground. Both men died later that day from their injuries.

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