Peter Carpenter - Flying Service

Flying Service

Peter 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, France, fired 30 rounds at one, and drove it down out of the fight. After a short scrap 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 planes during January, 1918. On 29 January, three days after win number eight, he went on home leave until 20 February.

Upon his return, he was transferred to 66 Squadron as B flight leader, effective 27 February. He marked his first day as a flight leader with his ninth triumph.

On 30 March 1918 his flight, consisting of himself, Harold Ross Eycott-Martin and Alan Jerrard, was involved in the combat that resulted in the Victoria Cross award to Jerrard; Carpenter claiming one of the six Albatros fighters claimed destroyed in this fight (although Austro-Hungarian records indicate 3 aircraft were only damaged).

His 24 claims consisted of 15 destroyed, 2 shared destroyed, and 7 'out of control'.