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Name: Ian Patrick Robert "Old Naps" Napier
Military Cross (MC)
LĂ©gion d'Honneur

Croix de Guerre
Ian Napier
Country: Scotland
Rank: Captain
Service: Royal Flying Corps
Royal Air Force
Units: 40
Victories: 12
Born: 24 July 1895
Place of Birth: Old Kirkpatrick, Dunbartonshire, Scotland
Died: 09 May 1977
Place of Death: Kensington, London, England
Cemetery: Dumbarton Cemetery
 
The son of Henry Melville and Margaret (Muter) Napier, Ian Patrick Robert Napier attended Eton before joining the army. With the 9th (The Dumbartonshire) Battalion of Princess Louise's Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, Lieutenant Napier received Royal Aero Club Aviator's Certificate 3269 on a B.E.2c biplane at Military School, Hounslow Heath on 18 July 1916. Seconded to the Royal Flying Corps on 4 August 1916, he was posted to 40 Squadron. He scored 12 victories flying Nieuport scouts and the S.E.5a and served as a liaison officer with the French army. After the war he entered the family shipbuilding business.

WO 339/48765
WO 374/50002
Great Britain, Royal Aero Club Aviators’ Certificates, 1910-1950
British Army WWI Medal Rolls Index Cards, 1914-1920
 
Military Cross (MC)
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.
 
Victories
Date Time Unit Aircraft Opponent Location
1 14 Apr 1917 1610 40 Nieuport (A6778) Albatros D.III (DES) 1 Mericourt-La Coulette
2 24 Apr 1917 1200 40 Nieuport (A6778) DFW C.V (CAP) 2 Lens
3 06 Mar 1918 1625 40 S.E.5a (B4888) Albatros D.V (DES) NE of Lens
4 06 Apr 1918 1035 40 S.E.5a (B157) C (DES) Brebieres
5 12 Apr 1918 0650 40 S.E.5a (B157) Albatros D.V (OOC) 3 S of Estaires
6 12 Apr 1918 0650 40 S.E.5a (B157) Albatros D.V (OOC) S of Estaires
7 29 Apr 1918 0720 40 S.E.5a (B157) DFW C.V (CAP) 4 W of Bethune
8 03 May 1918 1850 40 S.E.5a (B157) DFW C.V (DES) Merville
9 13 May 1918 0615 40 S.E.5a (D213) DFW C.V (DES) 5 Lacouture
10 01 Jul 1918 2010 40 S.E.5a (D6180) Pfalz D.III (DES) Armentières
11 01 Jul 1918 2035 40 S.E.5a (D6180) Rumpler C (DES) La Gorgue
12 04 Jul 1918 1525 40 S.E.5a (D6180) Fokker D.VII (OOC) Bois du Biez

1 Shared with Lt D de Burgh (A6781)
2 Shared with Lt Brevis, FSL Robert Little
3 Shared with 2Lt Ivan Hind
4 Shared with Lt P D Learoyd (D213), Lt L H Sutton (D3509)
5 Shared with Lt J H Jennings & 2Lt J H Hay
 
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