Captain Peter Carpenter 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. On 20 September, he dove on four Albatros D.Vs near Ypres, Belgium, fired 30 rounds at one, and drove it down out of the fight. After a short fight 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 aircraft 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. His 24 claims consisted of 15 destroyed, 2 shared destroyed, and 7 'out of control'.
Military honours
;Military Cross T./2nd Lt. Peter Carpenter, Gen. List and R.F.C. ;Bar to Military Cross T./Capt. Peter Carpenter, M.C., Gen. List and R.F.C. ;Distinguished Service Order T./Capt. Peter Carpenter, M.C., R.A.F. ;Bronze Medal for Military Valour Lieut. Peter Carpenter, D.S.O., M.C.
