Date of birth:

May 4th, 1921

Service number:

116984

Nationality:

British

Peter Knapton undertoook flying training in Rhodesia in 1940 after which he sailed to the UK and joined No. 257 (Hurricane) Squadron at Coltishall in 1941. In July he and Hector Keil, a fellow sergeant pilot from Rhodesia, were told by their Squadron Leader 'Cowboy’ Blatchford‘, they were send to Russia. They joined No. 134 Squadron aboard the S.S. Llanstephan Castle bound for Archangel, her deck space loaded with crated Hurricanes.
Returning home in late 1941, Knapton flew Spitfires after which he was posted to the Western Desert in 1942-43. From there he was sent to India in November, 1943. During 1944 and the first half of 1945 he was flying Hurricanes, and later Thunderbolts, on operations on the Arakan Front in Burma.
After the War he was a Gunnery Instructor before taking up the post of Assistant Air Attaché to Moscow, where he met his wife.
He amassed many hours experience on jet aircraft from 1955 and subsequent postings included Staff Officer, HQ Fighter Command, and Officer Commanding 280 Signals Unit in Cyprus. In 1963 he was attached to Lord Mountbatten’s Staff for a special project before being appointed Air Attaché in Tehran (1964-67). From 1969-74 he was Air Attaché in Thailand and his final position was as Staff Officer at the Ministry of Defence.
He retired in 1979.

Apart from the decorations below he also was awarded:
Thai Order of the Crown, 3e Klasse, d.d. May 9th, 1972
The Order of the British Empire, OBE (Military), 2nd type d d January 1st, 1975
Arctic Campaign Medal 1991

Promotions::
February 19th, 1942: Pilot Officer (probation/emergency)
October 1st, 1942: Flying Officer (probation/war sub)
February 19th, 1944: Flight Lieutenant (war sub)
February 28th, 1946: Extended service for four years as Flight Lieutenant
March 2nd, 1949: permanent commission
January 1st, 1953: Squadron Leader
July 1st, 1960: Wing Commander
October 31st, 1979: retirement

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Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Flight Lieutenant

Unit:

No. 134 Squadron, Royal Air Force

Awarded on:

May 19th, 1944

Citation:
“This Officer has been engaged on operations since May, 1941, in England, Russia, the Middle East and India, and has completed 236 operational hours.
During recent intense air operations on the Arakan Front, F/O. Knapton was leading a flight, escorting supply droppers, when they were attacked by two formations of enemy aircraft. Although heavily outnumbered, and, in spite of the fact that two of his flight were shot down, he remained supporting the D.C’s., and succeeded in destroying an Oscar. He continues to show great enthusiasm and keenness, and is a great asset to the Squadron both on the ground and in the air.”

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

With "NORTH AFRICA 1942-43" clasp."

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

• - The London Gazette Issue 35531 published on the 21 April 1942
  - Third Supplement to The London Gazette Issue 35809 published on the 1 December 1942
  - Third Supplement to The London Gazette Issue 36417 published on the 7 March 1944
  - Fourth Supplement to The London Gazette Issue 36521 published on the 16 May 1944
  - Second Supplement to The London Gazette Issue 37942 published on the 25 April 1947
  - Supplement to The London Gazette Issue 38638 published on the 14 June 1949
  - Eighth Supplement to The London Gazette Issue 39739 published on the 30 December 1952
  - Second Supplement to The London Gazette Issue 42080 published on the 28 June 1960
  - Chelsea Military Antiques