Ian Napier

Captain Ian Patrick Robert Napier MC was a World War I flying ace credited with twelve aerial victories.

On 2 September 1914, Napier was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the 9th (The Dumbartonshire) Battalion, Princess Louise's Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders. On 8 July 1915, he was appointed an aide-de-camp. On 8 February 1916, he was restored to the establishment of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders. 9 February promoted Lieutenant. On 4 August 1916, he was simultaneously seconded to the Royal Flying Corps and appointed a Flying Officer.

Napier was assigned to 40 Squadron as a Nieuport pilot. He scored his first victory on 14 April 1917, in the destruction of an Albatros D.III. His second win came ten days later, when he helped Robert A. Little capture a DFW C.V. On 22 May 1917, Napier was promoted to Captain with seniority of 1 June 1916. Rather confusingly, on 5 June 1917 Napier was promoted from Flying Officer to Temporary Captain and Flight Commander.

Napier resumed his victory list after upgrading to a Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5a. On 6 March 1918, he destroyed an Albatros D.V. A month later, he scored again. He then accumulated victories until 4 July 1918, when he scored his twelfth. His final tally was seven German planes destroyed (including two shared wins), three driven down out of control (one of which was shared), and two shared captures of DFW D.Vs.

On 18 April 1919, Napier transferred to the unemployed list of the RAF. 7 December 1920 relinquished temporary commission in Royal Air Force to return to Territorial Force (probably Highlanders). Eventually, he went into the family shipbuilding business.

Honors and awards
Military Cross (MC) on 16 September 1918

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.

Croix de Chevalier, Legion d'Honneur was awarded on 17 December 1917.