Eric Carter (12 February 1920 – 26 July 2021) was a British Royal Air Force pilot.
Eric Carter | |
|---|---|
| Born | 12 February 1920 Bromsgrove, Worcestershire, England |
| Died | 26 July 2021 (aged 101) Birmingham, West Midlands, England |
| Allegiance |  United Kingdom |
| Service |  Royal Air Force |
| Years of service | 1939–1946 |
| Rank | Warrant officer |
Early life
editEric Carter was born on 12 February 1920 near Bromsgrove in Worcestershire, England.[1]
World War II
editCarter joined the Royal Air Force (RAF) in 1939. He said he joined "because the Germans were committing such horrible atrocities".[2] Carter was posted to No. 615 Squadron.[3]
Carter left the RAF in 1946.[4]
Carter was one of only four non-Russians to receive the Order of Lenin, the Soviet Union's highest military honour.[5] In March 2013, Carter was awarded the Arctic Star for his efforts during the war.[6] In September 2014, he was awarded the Medal of Ushakov by the Russian government.[7]
Post-War
editIn 2012, Carter launched a fundraising campaign to finance the restoration of a Supermarine Spitfire donated to Stoke-on-Trent in 1969.[8]
Carter died at a retirement home in Birmingham, West Midlands, on 26 July 2021.[9]
Personal life
editEric married Phyllis Carter in 1943.[4]
References
edit- ^ "Eric Carter obituary". The Times. 3 August 2021. Archived from the original on 3 August 2021. Retrieved 3 August 2021.
- ^ "World War II pilot from Halesowen, 101, dies". BBC News. 3 August 2021. Archived from the original on 3 August 2021. Retrieved 3 August 2021.
- ^ Carter, Eric (20 August 2010). "A Worcestershire veteran's Battle of Britain memories". BBC News. Archived from the original on 3 August 2021. Retrieved 3 August 2021.
- ^ a b "Warrant Officer Eric Carter, Hurricane pilot decorated for his role in helping to defend Murmansk – obituary". The Daily Telegraph. 2 August 2021. Archived from the original on 2 August 2021. Retrieved 3 August 2021.
- ^ "Stalin's forgotten British lifesavers". Birmingham Mail. 24 June 2009. Archived from the original on 3 August 2021. Retrieved 3 August 2021.
- ^ "Medal honour for hero RAF pilot after secret World War II mission to protect Russian port". Birmingham Mail. 18 March 2013. Archived from the original on 3 August 2021. Retrieved 3 August 2021.
- ^ "Russian bravery medal for Eric - after 73 years". Kidderminster Shuttle. 5 September 2014. Archived from the original on 3 August 2021. Retrieved 3 August 2021.
- ^ "Worcestershire Spitfire pilot launches fighter fund". BBC News. 19 February 2012. Archived from the original on 4 February 2013. Retrieved 3 August 2021.
- ^ Bannerman, Lucy (29 July 2021). "Eric Carter, last veteran of secret RAF mission to save Stalin, dies at 101". The Times. Archived from the original on 29 July 2021. Retrieved 3 August 2021.
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