Walter Naylor facts for kids

Walter Naylor was a brave airman during the First World War. He was born on 28 October 1891. He became one of the top "observer aces" in the Royal Naval Air Service. This means he was a very skilled crew member who helped spot enemy planes and fired guns from his aircraft. He had 14 confirmed victories against enemy planes.

Naylor flew in Airco DH.4 airplanes. These were special planes used for bombing missions. He was part of a group called No. 5 Naval Squadron. They flew their missions over the English Channel, which is the sea between England and France.

Walter Naylor's War Flights

Walter Naylor's first big success happened on 21 October 1917. He and his pilot, Flight Lieutenant A. Shaw, were flying a mission. They managed to force a German Albatros D.V plane down. This happened near an airfield called Houttave.

More Victories in 1917

Just a few weeks later, on 4 November, Naylor and Shaw were flying the same DH.4 plane. They forced another Albatros D.V down over Engel Airfield. Later that year, on 18 December 1917, Naylor teamed up with Flight Commander C. D. Sproat. They were flying a different DH.4 plane. During this flight, they set an Albatros D.V on fire in the air! They also forced another one down near Engel Airfield.

The very next day, Naylor was the gunner for Flight Commander Charles Bartlett. Together, they destroyed an Albatros D.V near the coast of Ostend. With this victory, Walter Naylor officially became an "ace." An ace is a pilot or observer who has helped shoot down five or more enemy aircraft.

Successes in 1918

Walter Naylor continued his success into 1918. On 30 January and 17 February, he worked with Flight Lieutenant Euan Dickson. They forced two more Albatros D.V planes down.

After these flights, Naylor mostly flew with Charles Bartlett again. Bartlett scored seven of his eight victories with Naylor as his observer and gunner. They were a very successful team. On 28 March 1918, they had a very important day. They were flying over a place called Raincourt. They managed to destroy two Fokker Dr.I triplane fighters. They also took down a Pfalz D.III fighter. These were all enemy planes.

Awards and Recognition

For his amazing bravery and skill, Walter Naylor received a special award. It was called the Distinguished Service Medal. He got this award on 17 April 1918. By this time, he had flown over 20 bombing missions.

He was honored again in June 1918. He received a Bar to his Distinguished Service Medal. This means he got an extra recognition for his continued excellent service. By the end of the war, Walter Naylor had flown at least 91 bombing missions. He was a true hero of the skies.