CARTER, John Arthur

1591447 Sergeant, Wireless Operator/Air Gunner, 12 Squadron (Group 1), R.A.F. (Volunteer Reserve)

Born 14/03/1925 Grimsby

Died 15/12/1944, Age 19, at Holbeach Drove

Buried 21/12/1944

Son of George Arthur Carter (b. 1892) and Annie Harriet Carter (b. 1894, nee Thornham), married 1915 in Grimsby

Brother of Jane W Carter (born 1919)

1939 – family living at 25 Garnett Street, Cleethorpes. Father George is a Relieving Officer (an official appointed by a parish or union to administer relief to the poor)

Address at time of death: 25 Garnett Street, Cleethorpes

http://www.bcar.org.uk/ records that John Carter was one of the crew of Lancaster PD201 and describes the incident that lead to his death as follows:

“Coded PH-E, airborne 1507 15 Dec 44 from Wickenby to Ludwigshafen. While returning to base a fire broke out and before anyone could react the Lancaster dived into the ground at 2100, exploding on impact, near Holbeach Drove, 8 miles SSW of Holbeach, Lincolnshire.”

The crew members who died with John Carter were:

Pilot Officer Eric Thornton Gillingham (age 32)

Sgt. John Nicholls, Flight Engineer (age 19)

Sgt Francis David Matheson Smith, navigator (age 22)

Sgt Alan Muttock, air bomber (age 23)

Sgt Frederick John Angus, air gunner (age 19)

Sgt James Goldsmith Robinson, air gunner (age 19)

“Sgt Nicholls was buried at nearby Sutton Bridge (St Matthew) Churchyard. Both Air Gunners are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial, but the others were taken home. It is likely that Sgt Smith’s funeral was conducted by his father, the Revd Arthur Augustus Smith of Hexham. P/O Gillingham’s father was RSM James Gillingham of the King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry.”

Bomber Command records describe the mission, in which Lancaster PD201 took part:

“327 Lancasters and 14 Mosquitos of Nos 1, 6 and 8 Groups despatched to Ludwigshafen. 1 Lancaster lost. The target area for this raid was the northern part of Ludwigshafen and the small town of Oppau in which two important IG Farben chemical factories were situated. Severe damage was caused and fierce fires were started. The Oppau factory ceased production completely. 5 other industrial firms were also badly hit. Some damage was also caused to housing areas around the various factories but this was not serious. Damage was also caused to installations and ships at the nearby Rhine quays.”

Total effort for the night: 509 sorties, 2 aircraft (0.4 per cent) lost.”