Peter Carpenter

Captain Peter Carpenter (6 December 1891 – 21 March 1971) was a Welsh fighter ace in World War I credited with 24 victories.

Early life 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.

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 the Home Establishment. From there, he transferred to the Royal Flying Corps, being appointed a probationary temporary second lieutenant on 17 March 1917.

Flying service 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.

His 24 claims consisted of 15 destroyed, 2 shared destroyed, and 7 'out of control'. (M.C. gazetted 4 March 1918.)

Bar to Military Cross

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.

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.

Bronze Medal for Military Valour

Lieut. (T./Capt.) Peter Carpenter, D.S.O., M.C. Conferred by the Government of Italy.

Post-war career Carpenter founded a shipping company after the war, but it fell victim to the Great Depression, and he took a position as general manager at the London office of the Metropolitan Life Company of New York, later taken over by Legal & General. Carpenter stayed with the company until he retired. During World War II he served in No.13 Company, 20th Battalion, Middlesex Home Guard.

Carpenter died on 21 March 1971.