Charles Napier

Captain Charles George Douglas Napier, (1892 – 15 May 1918) was a British World War I flying ace credited with nine aerial victories before being killed in action.

Biography Napier was born in Shepherd's Bush, London, England in 1892. Before the war he was employed in the Fire Department of the Employers' Liability Assurance Corporation Ltd.

Army service He began his military service as a private in the Army Cyclist Corps. In August 1915, while serving as a corporal in the 47th Divisional Cyclist Company, Napier was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal. His citation read:

On 24 February 1916 he received the Médaille militaire from France "in recognition of ... distinguished service during the campaign".

Royal Flying Corps service

Napier was seconded to the Royal Flying Corps, and commissioned as a temporary second lieutenant on 23 September 1917. He served with No. 20 Squadron in late 1917 before transferring to 48 Squadron in early 1918. He scored his first aerial victory while with them, on 7 February. On 4 April he was promoted to acting-captain. He would run his total to nine wins, rounding off his tally with a triple victory on 9 May; he and his gunner Walter Beales were also shot down during this action, though without injury. Six days later, he was killed in action, shot down along with his gunner of the day. On 12 June, the Germans verified Napier's death. Ten days later, his award of the Military Cross was gazetted,

+List of aerial victories No.Date/timeAircraftFoeResultLocationNotes 1 ca. 0600 hours LVG reconnaissance plane Destroyed Le CateletWith gunner/observer J. M. J. Moore 2 8 March 1918ca. 0600 hours Bristol F.2B Fighter DFW reconnaissance plane Set on fire; destroyed Saint-Quentin 316 March 1918ca. 0600 hoursBristol F.2B Fighter LVG reconnaissance plane Driven down out of control 4 Albatros D.III Driven down out of control 5 27 March 1918@ 1120 hours Bristol F.2B Fighter(s/n C4886) Reconnaissance plane DestroyedSouthwest of Roye 6 Pfalz D.III Driven down out of control 7 9 May 1918@ 1540 hours Bristol F.2B Fighter(s/n C4750) Fokker Triplane Driven down out of control Wiencourt-l'Équipée-MericourtWith gunner/observer Walter Beales 8 Fokker Triplane Driven down out of control 9 Fokker Triplane Driven down out of control