CREW MEMBER PROFILE |
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Surname: |
CARTER |
First Name/s: |
John William "Nick" |
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Service No/s: |
1239087 & 189260 |
Service: |
RAFVR |
Branch: |
Air Bomber |
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Awards: |
n/k |
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SERVICE RECORDS |
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Date |
Event |
Aircraft Flown |
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07 Dec 1942 |
No. 4 Bombing & Gunnery School (B&GS), Fingal, Ontario |
Anson & Bolingbroke |
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20 Feb 1943 |
No.9 Air Observer School (AOS), St John's, Quebec |
Anson |
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29 Jun 1943 |
No.10 (Observers) Advanced Flying Unit ((O) AFU), No.126 (Air Bombers) Course, Dumfries, Dumfries-shire, Scotland |
Anson |
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28 Jul 1943 |
No.18 Operational Training Unit (OTU), Finningley, Yorkshire; joins the C G Wearmouth crew |
Wellington |
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18 Sep 1943 |
Qualified as Air Bomber (Armament) |
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01 Oct 1943 |
No.11 Base, Lindholme, Yorkshire; administrative Base for No.1 Group heavy bomber conversions |
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02 Oct 1943 |
No.1662 Heavy Conversion Unit (HCU), Blyton, Lincolnshire |
Halifax |
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02 Mar 1944 |
No.1 Lancaster Finishing School, Hemswell, Lincolnshire |
Lancaster |
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11 Mar 1944 |
No.576 Squadron, 'A' Flight, Elsham Wolds, Lincolnshire |
Lancaster |
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01 Jun 1944 |
Attached to No.1 Group Special Duties Flight (SDF), Binbrook, Lincolnshire, with the rest of the C G Wearmouth crew |
Lancaster |
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12 Aug 1944 |
Returned to No.576 Squadron, 'A' Flight, Elsham Wolds, Lincolnshire, with the rest of the C G Wearmouth crew |
Lancaster |
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17 Dec 1944 |
Discharged on appointment to a Commission |
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18 Dec 1944 |
Commissioned as a Pilot Officer on probation (emergency); listed in the London Gazette (page reference pending) |
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01 Jan 1945 |
No.1667 Heavy Conversion Unit (HCU), Sandtoft, Yorkshire, as an instructor tbc |
Lancaster |
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29 Mar 1945 |
No.1667 Heavy Conversion Unit (HCU), No.316 Course, Sandtoft, Yorkshire |
Lancaster |
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01 May 1945 |
No.170 Squadron, 'B' Flight, Hemswell Lincolnshire, with the W B Marshall crew |
Lancaster |
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18 Jun 1945 |
Promoted to Flying Officer (date and London Gazette notification to be confirmed) |
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01 Nov 1945 |
No.103 Squadron, Elsham Wolds, Lincolnshire, with the W B Marshall crew |
Lancaster |
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26 Nov 1945 |
Transferred to No.57 Squadron, 'A' Flight, Elsham Wolds, Lincolnshire, with the W B Marshall crew on the disbandment of No.103 Squadron |
Lancaster |
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576 Squadron FLYING RECORDS |
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Date |
Aircraft |
Code |
Flight Details |
T/O |
Land |
Flt Time |
Crew |
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14 Mar 1944 |
LM469 |
UL-E2 |
Training |
1030 |
1500 |
4h30 |
P1 Flt Sgt C.G. Wearmouth |
NOTES: |
Cross-country navigation exercise and high level bombing |
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16 Mar 1944 |
LM469 |
UL-E2 |
Training |
1920 |
2350 |
4h30 |
P1 Flt Sgt C.G. Wearmouth |
NOTES: |
Exercise 'Bullseye' (target not known) |
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17 Mar 1944 |
LL748 |
UL-A2 |
Training |
1530 |
1630 |
1h00 |
P1 Flt Sgt C.G. Wearmouth |
NOTES: |
High level bombing |
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19 Mar 1944 |
DV365 |
UL-Z2 |
Air Test |
1420 |
1500 |
0h40 |
P1 Flt Sgt C.G. Wearmouth |
NOTES: |
Air Test |
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19 Mar 1944 |
DV365 |
UL-Z2 |
Training |
1745 |
2200 |
4h15 |
P1 Flt Sgt C.G. Wearmouth |
NOTES: |
Night cross-country navigation exercise with high level bombing Passenger: AC2 Clayton |
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24 Mar 1944 |
ED767 |
UL-G2 |
BERLIN |
1900 |
0330 |
8h30 |
P1 Flt Sgt C.G. Wearmouth |
NOTES: |
Target: Built-up area Load: 1x 4000 lb 'Cookie', 108x 30 lb and 1924 x 4 lb incendiaries J W Carter: 'Plenty of combats' Due to poor visibility back at base, the crew diverted to Enstone |
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25 Mar 1944 |
ED767 |
UL-G2 |
Enstone-Base |
1430 |
1600 |
1h30 |
P1 Flt Sgt C.G. Wearmouth |
NOTES: |
Return from diversion |
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26 Mar 1944 |
ED888 |
UL-M2 |
ESSEN |
2000 |
0115 |
5h15 |
P1 Flt Sgt C.G. Wearmouth |
NOTES: |
Target: Built-up area Load: 1x 4,000lb 'Cookie', 108x 30lb and 1170x 4lb incendiaries On the way to the target, over the sea, the starboard inner engine failed but the attack was pressed with three engines at 18,000 ft. Attacked by two Ju-88s to the south of Lille but suffered no damage On the way home, a second engine failed. The crew picked up a Mosquito escort, who saw them safely to their diversion of West Malling, landing on the two remaining engines. A safe landing was made with no injuries to any of the crew |
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07 Apr 1944 |
JA715 |
UL-W2 |
Training |
1500 |
1625 |
1h25 |
P1 Flt Sgt C.G. Wearmouth |
NOTES: |
Low level map-reading cross-country navigation exercise Passenger: Aircraftman (AC) Lawson |
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09 Apr 1944 |
LL748 |
UL-A2 |
VILLENEUVE-ST-GEORGES |
2100 |
0220 |
5h20 |
P1 Flt Sgt C.G. Wearmouth |
NOTES: |
Target: Marshalling yards Load: 12x 1,000lb and 4x 500lb bombs Bombed at 10,000 ft |
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10 Apr 1944 |
LM532 |
UL-A2 |
AULNOYE |
2330 |
0435 |
5h05 |
P1 Flt Sgt C.G. Wearmouth |
NOTES: |
Target: Marshalling yards near Paris Load: 12x 1,000lb and 4x 500lb bombs Bombed at 10,000 ft |
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14 Apr 1944 |
JA868 |
UL-Y2 |
Air Test |
1530 |
1600 |
0h30 |
P1 Flt Sgt C.G. Wearmouth |
NOTES: |
Ait test |
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18 Apr 1944 |
ED767 |
UL-G2 |
ROUEN |
2115 |
0255 |
5h40 |
P1 Flt Sgt C.G. Wearmouth |
NOTES: |
Target: Marshalling yards (there were two Aiming Points) Load: 12x 1,000lb and 4x500lb bombs Bombed at 10,000 ft |
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22 Apr 1944 |
LM527 |
UL-U2 |
DUSSELDORF |
2220 |
0250 |
4h30 |
P1 Flt Sgt C.G. Wearmouth |
NOTES: |
Target: Built-up area to the North of the city centre Load: 1x 4,000lb 'Cookie', 108x 30lb and 1170x 4lb incendiaries Bombed at 20,000 ft |
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24 Apr 1944 |
LM527 |
UL-U2 |
KARLSRUHE |
2140 |
0420 |
6h40 |
P1 Flt Sgt C.G. Wearmouth |
NOTES: |
Target: Built-up area Load: 1x4,000lb 'Cookie', 180x 30lb and 1170x 4lb incendiaries Bombed at 18,000 ft Carter reports, 'electrical storms and icing' |
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26 Apr 1944 |
ND859 |
UL-L2 |
ESSEN |
2240 |
0335 |
4h55 |
P1 Flt Sgt C.G. Wearmouth |
NOTES: |
Target: Built-up area and the Krupps works Load: 1x 4,000ln 'Cookie', 180x 30lb and 1170x 4lb incendiaries Bombed at 20,000 ft |
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27 Apr 1944 |
ND859 |
UL-L2 |
FRIEDRICHSHAFEN |
2135 |
0620 |
8h45 |
P1 Flt Sgt C.G. Wearmouth |
NOTES: |
Target: Marshalling yards Load: 1x 4,000lb 'Cookie', 60x 30lb and 600x 4lb incendiaries Bombed at 20,000 ft |
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30 Apr 1944 |
ND859 |
UL-L2 |
MAINTENON |
2145 |
0230 |
4h45 |
P1 Flt Sgt C.G. Wearmouth |
NOTES: |
Target: Ammunition dump Load: 12x 1,000lb and 4x 500lb bombs Bombed at 7,000 ft and described by Carter as a 'good prang' |
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01 May 1944 |
ND859 |
UL-L2 |
Training |
1430 |
1540 |
1h10 |
P1 Flt Sgt C.G. Wearmouth |
NOTES: |
Air-to-sea firing |
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02 May 1944 |
LL799 |
UL-H2 |
Training |
1350 |
nk |
nk |
P1 Flt Sgt C.G. Wearmouth |
NOTES: |
Air-sea firing |
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03 May 1944 |
LL799 |
UL-H2 |
MAILLY |
2200 |
0415 |
6h15 |
P1 Flt Sgt C.G. Wearmouth |
NOTES: |
Target: Military depot and Panzer training centre Load: 1x 4,000lb 'Cookie' and 16x 1,000lb bombs Bombed at 8,000 ft Carter writes, 'Full moon - lots of enemy fighters' |
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06 May 1944 |
ND859 |
UL-L2 |
Base to North Killingholme |
1600 |
1610 |
0h10 |
P1 WO A.L. Puttock |
NOTES: |
Positioning flight Full crew compliment not known; possibly the Wearmouth crew |
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24 May 1944 |
ND994 |
UL-F2 |
AACHEN |
2340 |
0430 |
4h50 |
P1 Plt Off C.G. Wearmouth |
NOTES: |
Target: Marshalling yards at Aachen West and Rothe-Erde Load: 11x 1,000lb and 5x500lb bombs Bombed at 10,000 ft |
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26 May 1944 |
LL800 |
UL-H2 |
Training |
1440 |
nk |
nk |
P1 Plt Off C.G. Wearmouth |
NOTES: |
Fighter affiliation and air-to-sea firing |
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27 May 1944 |
NE115 |
UL-B2 |
AACHEN |
DNTO |
nk |
N/A |
P1 Plt Off C.G. Wearmouth |
NOTES: |
Target: Marshalling yards at Aachen East and Rothe-Erde Load: 11x 1,000lb and 4x500lb bombs Did not take off due to a burst tyre just prior to take-off |
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14 Aug 1944 |
ME671 |
UL-V2 |
FONTAINE LE PIN |
1310 |
1710 |
4h00 |
P1 Plt Off C.G. Wearmouth |
NOTES: |
Target: Enemy positions in the Falaise, Normandy, battle area Load: 18x 500lb bombs Flown in support of the 3rd Canadian Division, which was advancing on Falaise Bombed at 3,000 ft; direct hit on the Aiming Point |
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15 Aug 1944 |
ME671 |
UL-V2 |
LE CULOT (BEAUVECHAIN) |
0945 |
1330 |
3h45 |
P1 Fg Off C.G. Wearmouth |
NOTES: |
Target: Luftwaffe nightfighter airfield Load: 13x 1,000lb and 4x 500lb bombs Bombed at 15,000 ft Direct hit on Aiming Point |
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16 Aug 1944 |
ME671 |
UL-V2 |
POMERANIAN BAY |
2120 |
0440 |
7h20 |
P1 Fg Off C.G. Wearmouth |
NOTES: |
Target: Mine laying ('gardening') in Pomeranian Bay (north of Stettin) Load: 6x 1,500lb sea mines Mines 'well-layed' at 12,000 ft Attacked by a Bf-109, which was destroyed by the rear gunner (no combat report found) |
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18 Aug 1944 |
ME671 |
UL-V2 |
ERTVELDE-RHIEME (GHENT) |
2215 |
0125 |
3h10 |
P1 Fg Off C.G. Wearmouth |
NOTES: |
Target: Mechanical transport oil depot and storage tanks on the Ghent-Terneuzen Canal, north of Ghent. Load: 13x 1,000lb and 4x 500lb bombs Went around twice but scored a direct hit on the Aiming Point |
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20 Aug 1944 |
ME671 |
UL-V2 |
Air Test and Lindholme to Base |
1400 |
1430 |
0h30 |
P1 Fg Off C.G. Wearmouth |
NOTES: |
Air test and transit back to base from Lindholme |
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25 Aug 1944 |
ME671 |
UL-V2 |
RUSSELSHEIM |
1955 |
0440 |
8h45 |
P1 Fg Off C.G. Wearmouth |
NOTES: |
Target: Built-up area and the Opel Factory where V1 wings and fuselages were constructed Load: 1x 4,000lb 'Cookie' and 12x500 4lb incendiary clusters Followed out of the target area and attacked by a Ju-88; no combat report found. Carter's logbook states 'rocket firing' |
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26 Aug 1944 |
ME671 |
UL-V2 |
GDYNIA |
2055 |
0540 |
8h45 |
P1 Fg Off C.G. Wearmouth |
NOTES: |
Mine-laying ('gardening') in the Gdynia area, dropped with the aid of 'Y' (H2S) equipment Load: 5x 2,000 lb mines Due to poor visibility at base all aircraft were diverted to Lossiemouth, Scotland The crews took the opportunity of gathering some Christmas trees in Scotland before returning home later the next day |
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27 Aug 1944 |
ME671 |
UL-V2 |
Lossiemouth to Elsham Wolds |
1400 |
1600 |
2h00 |
P1 Fg Off C.G. Wearmouth |
NOTES: |
Return from diversion |
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28 Aug 1944 |
ME671 |
UL-V2 |
CHAPELLE NOTRE-DAME |
1855 |
2155 |
3h00 |
P1 Fg Off C.G. Wearmouth |
NOTES: |
Target: V1 'Flying Bomb' launch site Load: 13x 1,000 lb and 4x 500 lb bombs Carter records a direct hit on the Aiming Point and that the crew were congratulated by 1 Group |
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29 Aug 1944 |
UL-V2 |
POMERANIAN BAY |
2155 |
0555 |
8h00 |
P1 Fg Off C.G. Wearmouth |
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NOTES: |
Mine-laying ('gardening') in the Pomeranian (Stettin) Bay ('Geraniums') Load: 5x 1,500 lb mines 'Well-layed' This operation marked the end of the crew's tour |
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PERSONAL INFORMATION |
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Details |
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John William 'Nick' Carter was born on 26 September 1917, in Gainsborough, Lincolnshire, son of Edward Henry Carter and Lottie Eliza Holland. He had five siblings, Nell, Jim, 'Ted', Constance, and Dennis. In 1939 'Nick' is listed as an iron moulder, general engineering, and living in Etherington Street, Gainsborough. In July 1944 he married Olga Salomie King at St Helen's Church, Lea, Gainsborough; they had one son, Graham Nick died in his home town of Gainsborough in January 2003. He was 85 years old. Carter Family, Ancestry and the Commonwealth War Graves Commission Carter Family, Ancestry and the Commonwealth War Graves Commission |
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PHOTOS & DOCUMENTS |
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Details |
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The 'Pickle Barrel' Trophy badge, awarded in 1943 at 4 B&GS, Fingal, Canada for the most direct hits for his course at the bombing rangesCarter family |
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1943 - LAC J W 'Nick' Carter 'wings' paradeCarter family |
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Possibly a graduation photo at 9 AOS, St John's. Quebec in 1943Carter family |
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Logbook - 576 Squadron 07-26 April 1944Carter family |
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Logbook - 576 Squadron 14-26 March 1944Carter family |
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Logbook - 576 Squadron 27-30 April 1944Carter family |
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Logbook - 576 Squadron 01-26 May 1944Carter family |
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The Wearmouth crew, Summer 1944 Back row L-R: MacDonald, Wilson, Wearmouth, Bott Front row L-R: Dowdall, Graham, CarterLinda Ives |
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July 1944 - Nick and Olga's Wedding. L-R: A MacDonald (crew WOp), n/k, Lottie Carter, 'Nick' Carter, Olga Carter (nee King), Elizabeth King, Brenda Knox, n/k, Cyril King, Edward CarterCarter family |
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Logbook - 576 Squadron 14-21 August 1944Carter family |
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Logbook - 576 Squadron 25-29 August 1944Carter family |
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Home on leave circa 1946Carter family |
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Christmas 1946 - 'Nick' Carter and son Graham - date not confirmedCarter family |
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1974 - Four generations of the Carter family. L-R: Graham (son), Lottie (mother), 'Nick', and Jason (grandson)Carter family |
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'Nick's former skipper, C G Wearmouth, scattering his ashes at the Memorial Garden, Elsham Wolds, 2003Carter family |
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