John Pinder (aviator)
| John William Pinder | |
|---|---|
| Born | 14 February 1898 Deal, Kent, England |
| Died |
16 August 1920 (aged 22) Icara, Brazil |
| Allegiance | England |
| Service/branch | Aviation |
| Years of service | 1916-1919 |
| Rank | Captain |
| Unit | No. 9 Naval Squadron RNAS, No. 213 Squadron RAF, No. 45 Squadron RAF |
| Awards | Distinguished Flying Cross with Bar, Mentioned in Despatches |
Captain John William Pinder DFC (14 February 1898 – 16 August 1920) was a British First World War flying ace, who flew for the Royal Navy Air Service, and later the Royal Air Force.
John William Pinder was born on 14 February 1898 in Deal, Kent, England.
Pinder joined military service for World War I when old enough. On 22 October 1916, he was appointed as a probationary flight officer in the Royal Naval Air Service and posted to its headquarters on the HMS President. On 3 January 1917 he was riding in the rear seat of Curtiss JN4 serial number 8820 when it crashlanded at Redcar, tearing off the undercarriage and damaging the propeller.
After completion of training as a pilot, he was posted to No. 9 Squadron RNAS. During the unit's operations along the Belgian coast, he scored his first three aerial victories. He was subsequently appointed a flight commander and transferred to No. 13 Squadron RNAS. By 5 December 1917, his score had risen to six, and he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross.
On 17 January 1918, he was reported accidentally injured in Flight newsletter, though the date of injury was not reported. By the end of April 1918, he had amassed 166 combat flight hours. By this time, No. 13 Squadron RNAS had been incorporated into the nascent Royal Air Force. This incorporation may account for the fact that on 13 May 1918, Lieutenant Pinder was appointed as a temporary captain while employed as such, as flight commanders in the RAF were ranked as captains.
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