Peter Carpenter
Encyclopedia
Captain Peter Carpenter (6 December 1891 - 21 March 1971) was a fighter ace in World War I
credited with 24 victories.
, Wales
to Peter S. and Jane Carpenter, who had eight other children.
The elder Peter Carpenter was a ship's pilot who owned his own boat and worked the Bristol Channel and Western Approaches. Carpenter attended the National School in Grange Town, Cardiff, until age 14. He was a rugby union
star at school.
He apparently worked for a printer immediately after leaving school. At age 17, he joined Spillers & Baker Company as a clerk; circa 1910, he became a representative for them at their Stockport office.
.
with 45 Squadron
on 14 September 1917.
On 20 September, he dove on four Albatros D.V
s near Ypres, France, fired 30 rounds at one, and drove it down out of the fight. After a short scrap with the other three, he made his exit.
He destroyed his next four opponents, becoming an ace on 15 November.
45 Squadron was then transferred to the Italian Front. Carpenter went with it, and destroyed three more enemy planes during January, 1918. On 29 January, three days after win number eight, he went on home leave until 20 February.
Upon his return, he was transferred to 66 Squadron as B flight leader, effective 27 February. He marked his first day as a flight leader with his ninth triumph.
On 30 March 1918 his flight was involved in the combat that resulted in the Victoria Cross
award to Lt. Alan Jerrard
, Carpenter claiming one of the six Albatros fighters claimed destroyed in this fight ( lthough Austro-Hungarian records indicate 3 aircraft were only damaged).
His 24 claims consisted of 15 destroyed, 2 shared destroyed, and 7 'out of control'.
(MC)
T./2nd Lt. Peter Carpenter, Gen. List and R.F.C.
For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. Within a period of the last three months he has brought down six enemy machines, four of which were observed to crash to the ground, the remaining two being shot down completely out of control. The offensive tactics pursued by this daring and skilful officer have produced most successful results.
Supplement to the London Gazette
, 16 August 1918 (30845/9563)
Military Cross (MC) Bar
T./Capt. Peter Carpenter, M.C., Gen. List and R.F.C.
For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He led an offensive patrol against seven of the enemy; three were destroyed. Again he led a patrol of three machines against six of the enemy; two of them were destroyed and one driven down out of control. Later, with two other pilots he engaged twelve hostile machines, of which three were destroyed and one driven down out of control. He shot down several machines himself.
(M.C. gazetted 4 March 1918.)
Supplement to the London Gazette, 16 September 1918 (30901/10884)
Distinguished Service Order
(DSO)
T./Capt. Peter Carpenter, M.C., R.A.F.
For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He has destroyed nine enemy machines, and driven three down out of control. He has led forty-six offensive patrols. On one occasion twelve enemy aircraft were attacked, and on another he led two other machines against nineteen of the enemy, destroying six of them. He has at all times shown a magnificent example.
Supplement to the London Gazette, 16 September 1918 (30901/10864)
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
credited with 24 victories.
Early life
Peter Carpenter was born in CardiffCardiff
Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for...
, Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
to Peter S. and Jane Carpenter, who had eight other children.
The elder Peter Carpenter was a ship's pilot who owned his own boat and worked the Bristol Channel and Western Approaches. Carpenter attended the National School in Grange Town, Cardiff, until age 14. He was a rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
star at school.
He apparently worked for a printer immediately after leaving school. At age 17, he joined Spillers & Baker Company as a clerk; circa 1910, he became a representative for them at their Stockport office.
Infantry Service
He joined the Public Schools Royal Fusiliers in 1915 and was assigned to 24 Training Battalion as an instructor. He played rugby on his battalion team. He transferred to 19 Battalion and went to France with them as a sergeant on 14 November 1915. He also played for this battalion's rugby team until he broke his leg during a match. He was then transferred to Home Establishment. From there, he transferred to the Royal Flying CorpsRoyal Flying Corps
The Royal Flying Corps was the over-land air arm of the British military during most of the First World War. During the early part of the war, the RFC's responsibilities were centred on support of the British Army, via artillery co-operation and photographic reconnaissance...
.
Flying Service
Peter Carpenter began his flying career with 5 Reserve Squadron; his first flight was on 21 March 1917. He soloed on 7 April after five hours dual instruction. He moved on to advanced training after accumulating another seven hours 40 minutes stick time. In this phase of training, with 34 Reserve Squadron, he crashed on 11 June after engine failure. He was unhurt. He graduated advanced training with 84 hours flying time, and was assigned to fly a Sopwith CamelSopwith Camel
The Sopwith Camel was a British First World War single-seat biplane fighter introduced on the Western Front in 1917. Manufactured by Sopwith Aviation Company, it had a short-coupled fuselage, heavy, powerful rotary engine, and concentrated fire from twin synchronized machine guns. Though difficult...
with 45 Squadron
No. 45 Squadron RAF
-First World War:Formed during World War I at Gosport on 1 March 1916 as Number 45 Squadron, the unit was first equipped with Sopwith 1½ Strutters which it was to fly in the Scout role. Deployed to France in October of that year, the Squadron found itself suffering heavy losses due to the quality...
on 14 September 1917.
On 20 September, he dove on four Albatros D.V
Albatros D.V
|-See also:-Bibliography:*Bennett, Leon. Gunning for the Red Baron. College Station, TX: Texas A&M University Press, 2006. ISBN 1-58544-507-X....
s near Ypres, France, fired 30 rounds at one, and drove it down out of the fight. After a short scrap with the other three, he made his exit.
He destroyed his next four opponents, becoming an ace on 15 November.
45 Squadron was then transferred to the Italian Front. Carpenter went with it, and destroyed three more enemy planes during January, 1918. On 29 January, three days after win number eight, he went on home leave until 20 February.
Upon his return, he was transferred to 66 Squadron as B flight leader, effective 27 February. He marked his first day as a flight leader with his ninth triumph.
On 30 March 1918 his flight was involved in the combat that resulted in the Victoria Cross
Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
award to Lt. Alan Jerrard
Alan Jerrard
Flight Lieutenant Alan Jerrard VC was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces....
, Carpenter claiming one of the six Albatros fighters claimed destroyed in this fight ( lthough Austro-Hungarian records indicate 3 aircraft were only damaged).
His 24 claims consisted of 15 destroyed, 2 shared destroyed, and 7 'out of control'.
Military honours
Military CrossMilitary Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
(MC)
T./2nd Lt. Peter Carpenter, Gen. List and R.F.C.
For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. Within a period of the last three months he has brought down six enemy machines, four of which were observed to crash to the ground, the remaining two being shot down completely out of control. The offensive tactics pursued by this daring and skilful officer have produced most successful results.
Supplement to the London Gazette
London Gazette
The London Gazette is one of the official journals of record of the British government, and the most important among such official journals in the United Kingdom, in which certain statutory notices are required to be published...
, 16 August 1918 (30845/9563)
Military Cross (MC) Bar
T./Capt. Peter Carpenter, M.C., Gen. List and R.F.C.
For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He led an offensive patrol against seven of the enemy; three were destroyed. Again he led a patrol of three machines against six of the enemy; two of them were destroyed and one driven down out of control. Later, with two other pilots he engaged twelve hostile machines, of which three were destroyed and one driven down out of control. He shot down several machines himself.
(M.C. gazetted 4 March 1918.)
Supplement to the London Gazette, 16 September 1918 (30901/10884)
Distinguished Service Order
Distinguished Service Order
The Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September...
(DSO)
T./Capt. Peter Carpenter, M.C., R.A.F.
For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He has destroyed nine enemy machines, and driven three down out of control. He has led forty-six offensive patrols. On one occasion twelve enemy aircraft were attacked, and on another he led two other machines against nineteen of the enemy, destroying six of them. He has at all times shown a magnificent example.
Supplement to the London Gazette, 16 September 1918 (30901/10864)
Sources
- Sopwith Camel Aces of World War 1. Denes Bernad, Norman Franks. Osprey Publishing, 2003. ISBN 1841765341, 9781841765341.
- Biography at 66squadron