Peter Carpenter
| Peter Carpenter | |
|---|---|
| Born |
6 December 1891 Cardiff, Wales |
| Died | 21 March 1971 (aged 79) Golders Green, Middlesex, England |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Service/branch | British Army Royal Air Force |
| Years of service | 1915–1918 |
| Rank | Captain |
| Unit | Public Schools Royal Fusiliers No. 45 Squadron No. 66 Squadron |
| Awards |
Distinguished Service Order Military Cross & Bar Bronze Medal for Military Valour (Italy) |
Captain Peter Carpenter DSO, MC* (6 December 1891 – 21 March 1971) was a Welsh fighter ace in World War I credited with 24 victories.
Peter Carpenter was born in Cardiff, 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; around 1910, he became a representative for them at their Stockport office.
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 the Home Establishment. From there, he transferred to the Royal Flying Corps, being appointed a probationary temporary second lieutenant on 17 March 1917.
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 Camel with 45 Squadron on 14 September 1917.
On 20 September, he dove on four Albatros D.Vs near Ypres, Belgium, fired 30 rounds at one, and drove it down out of the fight. After a short fight 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 aircraft during January 1918. On 29 January, three days after win number eight, he went on home leave until 20 February.
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