Charles Napier (aviator)

Charles George Douglas Napier
Born	1892
Died	May 15, 1918(1918-05-15)
Place of birth	Shepherd's Bush, London, England
Place of death	Lamotte
Arras Flying Services Memorial	Pas de Calais, France
Allegiance	England
Service/branch	Aviation
Rank	Captain
Unit	No. 20 Squadron RFC, No. 48 Squadron RAF
Awards	Military Cross

Early life

Charles George Douglas Napier was born in Shepherd's Bush, London, England in 1892. He would begin his military service as a private in the British Army Cyclist Corps.

World War I

Second lieutenant C. G. D. Napier was appointed a Flying Officer and transferred to the General List of the Royal Flying Corps on 23 September 1917. He then served with 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 1918. He would run his total to nine wins, rounding off his tally with a triple victory on 9 May 1918; 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, as follows:

"....On one occasion during a low-flying bombing attack he descended to a height of 100 feet and dropped four bombs amongst a body of enemy troops, causing heavy casualties and scattering the enemy in all directions. Later, whilst on offensive patrol, he observed an enemy two-seater and two scouts. He fired twenty rounds at the two-seater, with the result that it crashed, and then attacked one of the scouts, which turned over completely, and finally went down in a vertical nose dive. In all he has to his credit two enemy machines crashed and four driven down out of control. He has displayed the greatest judgment, determination and daring."

List of aerial victories

See also Aerial victory standards of World War I

No.	Date/time	Aircraft	Foe	Result	Location	Notes
1	7 February 1918 approximately 0600 hours	Bristol F.2b Fighter	LVG reconnaissance plane	Destroyed	Le Catelet	Napier's gunner/observer was J. M. J. Moore
2	8 March 1918 approximately 0600 hours	Bristol F.2 Fighter	DFW reconnaissance plane	Set afire; destroyed	Saint-Quentin	Napier's gunner/observer was J. M. J. Moore
3	8 March 1918 approximately 0600 hours	Bristol F.2 Fighter	LVG reconnaissance plane	Driven down out of control		Napier's gunner/observer was J. M. J. Moore
4	16 March 1918 approximately 0600 hours	Bristol F.2 Fighter	Albatros D.III	Driven down out of control		Napier's gunner/observer was J. M. J. Moore
5	27 March 1918 @ 1120 hours	Bristol F.2 Fighter serial number C4886	Reconnaissance plane	Destroyed	Southwest of Roye	Napier's gunner/observer was J. M. J. Moore
6	27 March 1918 @ 1120 hours	Bristol F.2 Fighter s/n C4886	Pfalz D.III	Driven down out of control	Southwest of Roye	Napier's gunner/observer was J. M. J. Moore
7	9 May 1918 @ 1540 hours	Bristol F.2 Fighter s/n C4750	Fokker Triplane	Driven down out of control	Wiencourt-l'Équipée-Mericourt	Napier's gunner/observer was Walter Beales
8	9 May 1918 @ 1540 hours	Bristol F.2 Fighter s/n C4750	Fokker Triplane	Driven down out of control	Wiencourt-Mericourt	Napier's gunner/observer was Walter Beales
9	9 May 1918 @ 1540 hours	Bristol F.2 Fighter s/n C4750	Fokker Triplane	Driven down out of control	Wiencourt-Mericourt	Napier's gunner/observer was Walter Beales

References

• Above the Trenches: A Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the British Empire Air Forces 1915-1920 Christopher F. Shores, Norman L. R. Franks, Russell Guest. Grub Street, 1990. ISBN 0-948817-19-4, ISBN 978-0-948817-19-9.