Ian Rowland Carter DFC RAAF and crew - 576 Squadron - 1944/45
Ian Carter was born 17 March 1924 in Sydney New South Wales Australia. Prior to enlistment in on the 10 October 1942 he was a medical student at Sydney University, living in Sydney and a very keen sportsman. He trained in Australia at 1 Initial Training School at Somers, Victoria, 11 Elementary Flight Training School, Benalia Victoria an 7 Service Flying Training School, RAAF Deniliquin, New South Wales. On completion he embarked for the UK arriving 12 September 1943 where he continued his training at 14 ( Pilots ) Advanced Flying Unit which at this time was based at R.A.F. Station Banf, Banffshire, Scotland also operating from RAF Dallachy and RAF Fraserburgh
Carter was then posted to :-
20 June 1944 - No 30 Operational Training Unit, RAF Hixon
8 September 1944 – No 1667 Heavy Conversion Unit, RAF Sandtoft
No 1 Lancaster Finishing School, RAF Hemswell.
On completion Carter's crew consisted of :-
F/O R Carter RAAF - Pilot
Sgt D Mayer RAFVR – Flight Engineer
Sgt C Townsend RAFVR – Air Bomber
Sgt D R Ovenden RAFVR - Navigator
Sgt H R Wilson RAAF – Wireless operator
Sgt Dray RAFVR – Air Gunner
Sgt J E Davies RAFVR - Air Gunner
According to the 576 Squadron Operational Record Book the crew flew unaltered throughout their tour as follows :-
Carter flew as second pilot on the 16/11/1944, Duren, NF975 with F/O N Layden and crew
06/12/1944 - Leuna - Oil - JB410 – F/O R Carter RAAF
12/12/1944 - Essen - Point of Aim - ME735 – F/O R Carter RAAF
15/12/1944 - Ludswighafen/Oppau - Chemical - PB785 – F/O R Carter RAAF
22/12/1944 - Koblenz - Railway yards - PD403 – F/O R Carter RAAF - Bad weather at Base. Landed at Charterhall
29/12/1944 - Scholven Buer - Oil - JB410 - F/O R Carter RAAF
02/01/1945 - Nuremberg - Point of Aim - PD403 – F/O R Carter RAAF
05/01/1945 - Royen - Army support - PD363 – F/O R Carter RAAF
07/01/1945 - Munich - Point of Aim - ME317 – F/O R Carter RAAF
22/01/1945 - Duisburg/Hambourn - Oil - SW276 – F/O R Carter RAAF
28/01/1945 - Stuttgart/ Zuffenhausen - Aero engine factory - ME317 - F/O R Carter RAAF
02/02/1945 - Wiesbaden - Point of Aim - LM594 - F/O R Carter RAAF
08/02/1945 - Politz - Oil - LM594 - F/O R Carter RAAF
13/02/ 1945 - Dresden - Operation Thunderclap - LM594 - F/O R Carter RAAF - Lost engine outbound. Continued on 3. Landed safely at Jouvincourt in France on return.
20/02/1945 - Dortmund - Point of Aim - RF120 - F/O R Carter RAAF - 1 single engined night fighter sighted. Engaged by friendly flak on return home.
21/02/1945 - Duisburg - Point of Aim - RF120 - F/O R Carter RAAF - Sighted 1 single engined night fighter which did not engage
23/02/1945 - Pforzheim - Point of Aim - RF120 - F/O R Carter RAAF
28/02/1945 - Neuss - Army Support - RF120 - F/O R Carter RAAF - Aborted - Raid recalled due to uncertainty of position friendly troops.
08/03/1945 - Kassel - Point of Aim - ME317 - F/O R Carter RAAF
11/03/1945 - Essen - Point of Aim - ME317 - F/O R Carter RAAF
12/03/1945 - Dortmund - Point of Aim - LM594 - F/O R Carter RAAF
15/03/1945 - Misburg - Oil - LM594 – F/O R Carter RAAF
16/03/1945 - Nuremberg - Point of Aim - LM594 – F/O R Carter RAAF
22/03/1945 - Hildersheim - Railway yards - LM594 – F/O R Carter RAAF
24/03/1945 - Dortmund - Oil - LM594 – F/O R Carter RAAF
27/03/1945 - Paderborn - Army Support - LM594 – F/O R Carter RAAF - 2nd pilot Sgt Hogg
31/03/1945 - Hamburg - Shipyards - LM594 – F/O R Carter RAAF
04/04/1945 - Lutzendorf - Oil - LM594 – F/O R Carter RAAF
09/04/1945 - Kiel - Ship yard and naval base - LM594 – F/O R Carter RAAF
10/04/1945 - Plauen - Railway yards - LM594 – F/O R Carter RAAF
18/04/1945 - Heligoland - Naval base and airfield - LM594 – F/O R Carter RAAF
22/04/1945 - Bremen - Army Support - LM594 – F/O R Carter RAAF
01/05/1945 - Rotterdam - Operation Manna - SW276 – F/O R Carter RAAF
02/05/1945 - Rotterdam - Operation Manna - SW276 – F/O R Carter RAAF
03/05/1945 - Valkenburg Airfield - Operation Manna - SW276 – F/O R Carter RAAF
05/05/1945 - Rotterdam - Operation Manna - ? - F/O R Carter RAAF
07/05/1945 - Rotterdam - Operation Manna - LM227 – F/O R Carter RAAF
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Carter was awarded a DFC gazetted 11 December 1945 in London and 20 December 1945 in Australia. The short citation mentioned “ Fortitude, courage and devotion on numerous operations “
The award was presented by the Governor General at Government House, Sydney on the 11 September 1947.
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