Leonard A. Payne
Encyclopedia
Captain Leonard Allen Payne was a British flying ace
born in Swaziland
. He was credited with 11 confirmed aerial victories while piloting a Bristol F.2 Fighter
.
while living in his native Swaziland.
On 24 April 1917, temporary second lieutenant Payne was appointed a Flying Officer
.
Payne scored his first aerial victory on 29 October 1917, piloting a Bristol F.2 Fighter
for 48 Squadron in France. He would not win another triumph until 3 January 1918. His third win followed on 26 February 1918, when he set a German LVG
aflame in midair. He drove down two Albatros D.V
fighters out of control over Mont-d'Origny
on 8 March, and was an ace. Four days later, he sent down a Fokker Triplane
.
Payne became a Flight Commander in May 1918. He scored three victories that month, though it is unknown if he was leading the flight for any or all of them. However, on 30 May 1918, he destroyed a Fokker D.V to become a double ace.
However, when he won the Military Cross for his valor, the emphasis was not on his air to air victories. When the award citation was gazetted on 26 July 1918, it read:
On 4 November 1918, Payne scored his 11th victory; it was one of his squadron's final three wins of the war. Payne's personal tally came to three solo destructions of enemy planes, one shared destruction, and seven German planes sent down out of control.
in Germany. He was buried in Plot I. F. 10 in Cologne Southern Cemetery, Cologne, Germany.
Flying ace
A flying ace or fighter ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down several enemy aircraft during aerial combat. The actual number of aerial victories required to officially qualify as an "ace" has varied, but is usually considered to be five or more...
born in Swaziland
Swaziland
Swaziland, officially the Kingdom of Swaziland , and sometimes called Ngwane or Swatini, is a landlocked country in Southern Africa, bordered to the north, south and west by South Africa, and to the east by Mozambique...
. He was credited with 11 confirmed aerial victories while piloting a Bristol F.2 Fighter
Bristol F.2 Fighter
The Bristol F.2 Fighter was a British two-seat biplane fighter and reconnaissance aircraft of the First World War flown by the Royal Flying Corps. It is often simply called the Bristol Fighter or popularly the "Brisfit" or "Biff". Despite being a two-seater, the F.2B proved to be an agile aircraft...
.
World War I
On 1 February 1917, Payne enlisted in the Royal Flying CorpsRoyal Flying Corps
The Royal Flying Corps was the over-land air arm of the British military during most of the First World War. During the early part of the war, the RFC's responsibilities were centred on support of the British Army, via artillery co-operation and photographic reconnaissance...
while living in his native Swaziland.
On 24 April 1917, temporary second lieutenant Payne was appointed a Flying Officer
Flying Officer
Flying officer is a junior commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence...
.
Payne scored his first aerial victory on 29 October 1917, piloting a Bristol F.2 Fighter
Bristol F.2 Fighter
The Bristol F.2 Fighter was a British two-seat biplane fighter and reconnaissance aircraft of the First World War flown by the Royal Flying Corps. It is often simply called the Bristol Fighter or popularly the "Brisfit" or "Biff". Despite being a two-seater, the F.2B proved to be an agile aircraft...
for 48 Squadron in France. He would not win another triumph until 3 January 1918. His third win followed on 26 February 1918, when he set a German LVG
LVG
Luftverkehrsgesellschaft m.b.H. was a German aircraft manufacturer based in Berlin-Johannisthal, which began constructing aircraft in 1912, building Farman-type aircraft. The company constructed many reconnaissance and light bomber biplanes during World War I.The raid on London in 1916 was...
aflame in midair. He drove down two Albatros D.V
Albatros D.V
|-See also:-Bibliography:*Bennett, Leon. Gunning for the Red Baron. College Station, TX: Texas A&M University Press, 2006. ISBN 1-58544-507-X....
fighters out of control over Mont-d'Origny
Mont-d'Origny
Mont-d'Origny is a commune in the Aisne department in Picardy in northern France.-References:*...
on 8 March, and was an ace. Four days later, he sent down a Fokker Triplane
Fokker Dr.I
The Fokker Dr.I Dreidecker was a World War I fighter aircraft built by Fokker-Flugzeugwerke. The Dr.I saw widespread service in the spring of 1918...
.
Payne became a Flight Commander in May 1918. He scored three victories that month, though it is unknown if he was leading the flight for any or all of them. However, on 30 May 1918, he destroyed a Fokker D.V to become a double ace.
However, when he won the Military Cross for his valor, the emphasis was not on his air to air victories. When the award citation was gazetted on 26 July 1918, it read:
On 4 November 1918, Payne scored his 11th victory; it was one of his squadron's final three wins of the war. Payne's personal tally came to three solo destructions of enemy planes, one shared destruction, and seven German planes sent down out of control.
Post World War I
Leonard Allan Payne died on 18 February 1919 while serving with the Army of OccupationBritish Army of the Rhine
There have been two formations named British Army of the Rhine . Both were originally occupation forces in Germany, one after the First World War, and the other after the Second World War.-1919–1929:...
in Germany. He was buried in Plot I. F. 10 in Cologne Southern Cemetery, Cologne, Germany.
Reference
- Guttman, Jon. Bristol F2 Fighter Aces of World War I: Volume 79 of Aircraft of the Aces: Volume 79 of Osprey Aircraft of the Aces. Osprey Publishing, 2007. ISBN 1846032016, 9781846032011.