Ian Napier (aviator)
Encyclopedia
Captain Ian Patrick Robert Napier MC
was a World War I flying ace
credited with twelve aerial victories.
On 2 September 1914, Napier was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the 9th (The Dumbartonshire) Battalion, Princess Louise's Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders
. On 8 July 1915, he was appointed an aide-de-camp. On 8 February 1916, he was restored to the establishment of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders. 9 February promoted Lieutenant. On 4 August 1916, he was simultaneously seconded to the Royal Flying Corps
and appointed a Flying Officer
.
Napier was assigned to 40 Squadron as a Nieuport
pilot. He scored his first victory on 14 April 1917, in the destruction of an Albatros D.III
. His second win came ten days later, when he helped Robert A. Little
capture a DFW C.V
. On 22 May 1917, Napier was promoted to Captain with seniority of 1 June 1916. Rather confusingly, on 5 June 1917 Napier was promoted from Flying Officer to Temporary Captain and Flight Commander.
Napier resumed his victory list after upgrading to a Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5a. On 6 March 1918, he destroyed an Albatros D.V
. A month later, he scored again. He then accumulated victories until 4 July 1918, when he scored his twelfth. His final tally was seven German planes destroyed (including two shared wins), three driven down out of control (one of which was shared), and two shared captures of DFW D.Vs.
On 18 April 1919, Napier transferred to the unemployed list of the RAF. 7 December 1920 relinquished temporary commission in Royal Air Force to return to Territorial Force (probably Highlanders). Eventually, he went into the family shipbuilding business.
Capt. Ian Patrick Robert Napier, Arg. & Suth'd Highrs. and R.A.F.
For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. This officer has carried out many reconnaissances, and flying at low altitudes has engaged massed enemy troops with bombs and machine-gun fire, inflicting heavy casualties. He has brought down seven enemy machines.
Croix de Chevalier, Legion d'Honneur was awarded on 17 December 1917.
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
was a World War I flying ace
Flying ace
A flying ace or fighter ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down several enemy aircraft during aerial combat. The actual number of aerial victories required to officially qualify as an "ace" has varied, but is usually considered to be five or more...
credited with twelve aerial victories.
On 2 September 1914, Napier was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the 9th (The Dumbartonshire) Battalion, Princess Louise's Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders
Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders
The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, 5th Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland is an infantry battalion of the Royal Regiment of Scotland....
. On 8 July 1915, he was appointed an aide-de-camp. On 8 February 1916, he was restored to the establishment of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders. 9 February promoted Lieutenant. On 4 August 1916, he was simultaneously seconded to the Royal Flying Corps
Royal Flying Corps
The Royal Flying Corps was the over-land air arm of the British military during most of the First World War. During the early part of the war, the RFC's responsibilities were centred on support of the British Army, via artillery co-operation and photographic reconnaissance...
and appointed a Flying Officer
Flying Officer
Flying officer is a junior commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence...
.
Napier was assigned to 40 Squadron as a Nieuport
Nieuport
Nieuport, later Nieuport-Delage, was a French aeroplane company that primarily built racing aircraft before World War I and fighter aircraft during World War I and between the wars.-Beginnings:...
pilot. He scored his first victory on 14 April 1917, in the destruction of an Albatros D.III
Albatros D.III
The Albatros D.III was a biplane fighter aircraft used by the Imperial German Army Air Service and the Austro-Hungarian Air Service during World War I. The D.III was flown by many top German aces, including Manfred von Richthofen, Ernst Udet, Erich Löwenhardt, Kurt Wolff, and Karl Emil Schäfer...
. His second win came ten days later, when he helped Robert A. Little
Robert A. Little
Robert Alexander Little DSO & Bar, DSC & Bar is officially regarded as the most successful Australian flying ace of World War I, with a total of forty-seven aerial victories. Born in Victoria, he travelled to England in 1915 and learnt to fly at his own expense before joining the Royal Naval Air...
capture a DFW C.V
DFW C.V
-External Links:*...
. On 22 May 1917, Napier was promoted to Captain with seniority of 1 June 1916. Rather confusingly, on 5 June 1917 Napier was promoted from Flying Officer to Temporary Captain and Flight Commander.
Napier resumed his victory list after upgrading to a Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5a. On 6 March 1918, he destroyed an Albatros D.V
Albatros D.V
|-See also:-Bibliography:*Bennett, Leon. Gunning for the Red Baron. College Station, TX: Texas A&M University Press, 2006. ISBN 1-58544-507-X....
. A month later, he scored again. He then accumulated victories until 4 July 1918, when he scored his twelfth. His final tally was seven German planes destroyed (including two shared wins), three driven down out of control (one of which was shared), and two shared captures of DFW D.Vs.
On 18 April 1919, Napier transferred to the unemployed list of the RAF. 7 December 1920 relinquished temporary commission in Royal Air Force to return to Territorial Force (probably Highlanders). Eventually, he went into the family shipbuilding business.
Honors and awards
Military Cross (MC) on 16 September 1918Capt. Ian Patrick Robert Napier, Arg. & Suth'd Highrs. and R.A.F.
For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. This officer has carried out many reconnaissances, and flying at low altitudes has engaged massed enemy troops with bombs and machine-gun fire, inflicting heavy casualties. He has brought down seven enemy machines.
Croix de Chevalier, Legion d'Honneur was awarded on 17 December 1917.
Reference
- Nieuport Aces of World War 1. Norman Franks. Osprey Publishing, 2000. ISBN 1855329611, 9781855329614.