First Lieutenant Poynor was a crew member of a B-29A Bomber with the 371st Bomber Squadron, 307th Bomber Wing. On 23 October 1951, the aircraft was shot down by enemy MiGs over Namsi Airfield. He was listed as Missing in Action and was presumed dead on 28 February 1954. His remains were not recovered. His name is inscribed on the Courts of the Missing at the Honolulu Memorial.

For his leadership and valor, First Lieutenant Poynor was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal with 4 Oak Leaf Clusters, the Purple Heart, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Presidential Unit Citation and the Republic of Korea War Service Medal.