John De Camborne Paynter, (17 May 1898 – 6 June 1918) was a British

flying ace A flying ace, fighter ace or air ace is a military aviation, military aviator credited with shooting down a certain minimum number of enemy aircraft during aerial combat; the exact number of aerial victories required to officially qualify as an ...

of the

First World War World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

, credited with 10 aerial victories while flying with the

Royal Naval Air Service The Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS) was the air arm of the Royal Navy, under the direction of the Admiralty (United Kingdom), Admiralty's Air Department, and existed formally from 1 July 1914 to 1 April 1918, when it was merged with the British ...

. He was awarded the

Distinguished Service Cross The Distinguished Service Cross (D.S.C.) is a military decoration for courage. Different versions exist for different countries. *Distinguished Service Cross (Australia) *Distinguished Service Cross (United Kingdom) *Distinguished Service Cross (U ...

for his valour before being killed in a bombing raid.

Early life

Paynter was born in

Southsea Southsea is a seaside resort and a geographic area of Portsmouth, Portsea Island in the ceremonial county of Hampshire, England. Southsea is located 1.8 miles (2.8 km) to the south of Portsmouth's inner city-centre. Southsea began as a f ...

, Hampshire, on 17 May 1898. His mother was Alexandra Laura Paynter.

First World War

Paynter joined the

(RNAS) in early 1916 as a probationary temporary flight sub-lieutenant, and was confirmed in his rank on 25 June 1916. 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. On 1 January 1918, Paynter was promoted to flight lieutenant. 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. While doing this, he was

wounded in action Wounded in action (WIA) describes combatants who have been wounded while fighting in a combat zone during wartime, but have not been killed. Typically, it implies that they are temporarily or permanently incapable of bearing arms or continuing ...

on two occasions. Paynter died on 6 June 1918 from wounds suffered during a German bombing raid on his squadron's aerodrome at

Bergues Bergues (; ; ) is a Communes of France, commune in the Nord (French department), Nord Departments of France, department in northern France. It is situated to the south of Dunkirk and from the Belgium, Belgian border. Locally it is referred to ...

, France. He is buried in Plot IV. A. 78 in

Dunkirk Dunkirk ( ; ; ; Picard language, Picard: ''Dunkèke''; ; or ) is a major port city in the Departments of France, department of Nord (French department), Nord in northern France. It lies from the Belgium, Belgian border. It has the third-larg ...

Town Cemetery, France. He is also memorialised at Saint Peter's Church, Somerstown,

Portsmouth Portsmouth ( ) is a port city status in the United Kingdom, city and unitary authority in Hampshire, England. Most of Portsmouth is located on Portsea Island, off the south coast of England in the Solent, making Portsmouth the only city in En ...

, on a plaque located under the organ loft.

Distinguished Service Cross

As his award citation shows, Paynter performed admirably in air-to-ground combat as well as in the air:

List of aerial victories

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Paynter, John 1898 births 1918 deaths People from Southsea British World War I flying aces Royal Naval Air Service aviators Royal Air Force personnel of World War I Recipients of the Distinguished Service Cross (United Kingdom) British military personnel killed in World War I Deaths by German airstrikes during World War I Military personnel from Portsmouth

Early life

First World War

Distinguished Service Cross

List of aerial victories

See also

References