John Paynter | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | (1898-05-17)17 May 1898 |
| Died | 6 June 1918(1918-06-06) (aged 20) (DOW) Bergues, France |
| Buried | Dunkirk Town Cemetery, France 51°01′45″N2°23′18″E / 51.02917°N 2.38833°E /51.02917; 2.38833 |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Branch | Royal Navy Royal Air Force |
| Service years | 1916–1918 |
| Rank | Captain |
| Unit | No. 6 Naval Squadron RNAS No. 10 Naval Squadron RNAS No. 9 Naval Squadron RNAS No. 13 Naval Squadron/No. 213 Squadron RAF |
| Conflicts | First World War |
| Awards | Distinguished Service Cross |
John De Camborne Paynter,DSC (17 May 1898 – 6 June 1918) was a Britishflying ace of theFirst World War, credited with 10 aerial victories while flying with theRoyal Naval Air Service. He was awarded theDistinguished Service Cross for his valour before being killed in a bombing raid.[1]
Paynter was born inSouthsea, Hampshire, on 17 May 1898. His mother was Alexandra Laura Paynter.[1]
Paynter joined theRoyal Naval Air Service (RNAS) in early 1916 as a probationary temporary flightsub-lieutenant, and was confirmed in his rank on 25 June 1916.[2] He served in both No. 6 and No. 10 Naval Squadrons, before being injured in a flying accident on 9 April 1917. After his recovery, he flew with No. 9 Naval Squadron; it was while flying with them that he scored his first aerial victory on 27 October 1917. He then transferred to No. 13 Naval Squadron; he would remain with them through their transition to No. 213 Squadron RAF. On 5 December 1917, he scored a win with them.[1]
On 1 January 1918, Paynter was promoted toflight lieutenant.[3] He also scored three wins in the early months of 1918. After a break, he scored the remainder of his victories in May and early June 1918.[1] While doing this, he waswounded in action on two occasions.
Paynter died on 6 June 1918 from wounds suffered during a German bombing raid on his squadron's aerodrome atBergues, France.[1][4][5] He is buried in Plot IV. A. 78 inDunkirk Town Cemetery, France.[6] He is also memorialised at Saint Peter's Church,Somerstown,Portsmouth, on a plaque located under the organ loft.[7]
As his award citation shows, Paynter performed admirably in air-to-ground combat as well as in the air:
For the good work performed by him during a bombing attack on Ostende Seaplane Base on the 3rd March, 1918, carried out in spite of very adverse weather conditions. He has shown great zeal and courage as a fighting pilot, having destroyed several enemy machines, and been twice wounded in aerial combats.[8]
| No. | Date/time | Aircraft | Foe | Result | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. 9 Naval Squadron RNAS | ||||||
| 1 | 27 October 1917 10:40 | Sopwith Camel (B3830) | Albatros D.V fighter | Driven down out of control | Slijpe, Belgium | Shared with CaptainStearne T. Edwards, Flight Commander Harold Stackard, Flight LieutenantFred E. Banbury, and Flight Sub-LieutenantsFrancis Mellersh, John P. Hales, C. A. Narbeth, Arthur W. Wood, &Merrill S. Taylor. |
| No. 13 Naval Squadron RNAS | ||||||
| 2 | 5 December 1917 15:05 | Sopwith Camel (B6391) | Albatros reconnaissance aircraft | Destroyed | 4 miles northwest ofWenduine | Shared with Flight Sub-LieutenantsJohn W. Pinder,George C. MacKay, &Maurice L. Cooper |
| 3 | 29 January 1918 14:00 | Sopwith Camel (B3782) | Seaplane | Destroyed | 100 yards from the pier atBlankenberge, Belgium | Shared with Flight CommanderLeonard H. Slatter, and Flight Sub-LieutenantsJohn E. Greene, George C. MacKay, & Maurice L. Cooper |
| 4 | 30 January 1918 14:20 | Sopwith Camel (B3782) | Albatros reconnaissance aircraft | Destroyed | 2 miles north ofOstend | Shared with Flight CommanderMiles Day |
| 5 | 19 February 1918 13:55 | Sopwith Camel (B3782) | Seaplane | Destroyed by fire | East of Ostend | Shared with Flight Commander Miles Day, and Flight Sub-Lieutenants J. C. Stovin, E. V. Bell, & G. D. Smith |
| No. 213 Squadron RAF | ||||||
| 6 | 6 May 1918 19:50 | Sopwith Camel (B7254) | Albatros D.V fighter | Destroyed | Wenduine, Belgium | |
| 7 | 8 May 1918 19:50 | Sopwith Camel (B7254) | Albatros D.V fighter | Destroyed | Wenduine, Belgium | |
| 8 | Albatros D.V fighter | Driven down out of control | ||||
| 9 | 1 June 1918 14:20 | Sopwith Camel (B7254) | Pfalz D.III fighter | Driven down out of control | Bruges, Belgium | Shared with Lieutenants G. D. Smith, C. H. Denny, F. L. Cuttle & P. L. Jenner |
| 10 | Pfalz D.III fighter | Driven down out of control | Shared with Lieutenant G. D. Smith | |||
