John De Camborne Paynter, (17 May 1898 – 6 June 1918) was a British flying ace of the First World War, credited with 10 aerial victories while flying with the Royal Naval Air Service. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for his valour before being killed in a bombing raid.

Early life Paynter was born in Southsea, Hampshire, on 17 May 1898. His mother was Alexandra Laura Paynter.

First World War Paynter joined the Royal Naval Air Service (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 on two occasions.

Paynter died on 6 June 1918 from wounds suffered during a German bombing raid on his squadron's aerodrome at Bergues, France. He is buried in Plot IV. A. 78 in Dunkirk Town Cemetery, France. He is also memorialised at Saint Peter's Church, Somerstown, Portsmouth, 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 +Combat recordNo.Date/timeAircraftFoeResultLocationNotes No. 9 Naval Squadron RNAS 1 27 October 191710:40 Sopwith Camel(B3830) Albatros D.V fighter Driven down out of control Slijpe, Belgium Shared with Captain Stearne T. Edwards, Flight Commander Harold Stackard, Flight Lieutenant Fred E. Banbury, and Flight Sub-Lieutenants Francis Mellersh, John P. Hales, C. A. Narbeth, Arthur W. Wood, & Merrill S. Taylor. No. 13 Naval Squadron RNAS 2 5 December 191715:05 Sopwith Camel(B6391) Albatros reconnaissance aircraft Destroyed 4 miles northwest of Wenduine Shared with Flight Sub-Lieutenants John W. Pinder, George C. MacKay, & Maurice L. Cooper 3 29 January 191814:00 Sopwith Camel(B3782) Seaplane Destroyed 100 yards from the pier at Blankenberge, Belgium Shared with Flight Commander Leonard H. Slatter, and Flight Sub-Lieutenants John E. Greene, George C. MacKay, & Maurice L. Cooper 4 30 January 191814:20 Sopwith Camel(B3782) Albatros reconnaissance aircraft Destroyed 2 miles north of Ostend Shared with Flight Commander Miles Day 5 19 February 191813:55 Sopwith Camel(B3782) Seaplane Destroyed by fire East of Ostend Shared with Flight Commander Miles Day, and Flight Sub-Lieutenants J. C. Stovin, E. V. Bell, & G. D. Smith No. 213 Squadron RAF 6 6 May 191819:50 Sopwith Camel(B7254) Albatros D.V fighter Destroyed Wenduine, Belgium 7 8 May 191819:50Sopwith Camel(B7254) Albatros D.V fighter DestroyedWenduine, Belgium 8 Albatros D.V fighter Driven down out of control 9 1 June 191814:20 Sopwith Camel(B7254) Pfalz D.III fighter Driven down out of controlBruges, Belgium Shared with Lieutenants G. D. Smith, C. H. Denny, F. L. Cuttle & P. L. Jenner 10 Pfalz D.III fighter Driven down out of control Shared with Lieutenant G. D. Smith

See also Aerial victory standards of World War I List of World War I aces credited with 10 victories

References