Name:

Nationality:

Regiment/Service:

Rank:

Service No.:

Unit Text:

Date of Birth:

In air operations Flying Officer Carter and Sergeant McBeath have displayed courage, initiative and fortitude in keeping with the highest traditions of the Royal Air Force.

I was navigator of an aircraft which took off from Graveley (Huntingdonshire) about 1830 hours on 13 February 1943 to bomb Lorient. Our aircraft was hit by flak over the target and we baled out about 2045 hours. The other members of the crew were:-

F/O Thomas (Pilot)

Sergeant Martin (Bomb Aimer)

Flight Sergeant Turner (Wireless Operator)

Sergeant Young (Flight Engineer)

Flight Sergeant Barry (Mid-Upper Gunner), and

F/O Freeman (killed)

All landed safely, except F/O Freeman, whose parachute stuck as he was leaving the aircraft. He struck the ground and died 20 minutes later. The rest of us came down within 500 yards of one another in the region of Spezet, about ten miles southwest of Carhaix (Brittany) (Europe road map 1:200,000, sheet 58).

Flight Sergeant Barry and I joined up almost immediately and the other survivors gathered in a separate group. I fell in a field, about 15 yards from a house (at Koerlescouat) into which Flight Sergeant Barry was brought. Flight Sergeant Barry was given civilian clothes. I was already wearing civilian clothes under my battle dress with the idea (my own) of facilitating evasion. The people in the house kept our uniforms, parachutes and Mae Wests. Barry and I both speak fluent French, and we discussed our plans with our helpers. It was decided we could go through Gourin (southwest of Spezet) as there were no Germans there. We stayed at the farm until 0500 hours next day (14 February).

We then walked on secondary roads through Gourin to a farm at Pont Rouge near Priziac. I had with me my own map of France, and we used this and the maps from our escape aids "purse". We had also studied a map on the back of the telephone directory at the farm at Kerlescouat. We spent the night at the farm house at Pont Rouge.

At 0700 hours next day (15 February) we started walking to Guemene-sur-Scorff (to the east of Priziac) whence we got a bus to Pontivy. The bus was crowded, but I told the conductor we were Canadians escaping, and he pushed us on. A man on the bus heard us talking to the conductor, and at Pontivy he took us to a café, where we stayed a night and two days. Here we got in touch with an organization, and eventually my journey to the United Kingdom was arranged for me.

Flying Officer Carter was navigator of an aircraft detailed to attack Lorient on the night of the 12^th February 1943. Just after the bombs had been released the aircraft was severely hit by anti-aircraft fire and in a short time fire broke out, and as a result the crew were forced to abandon the aircraft. Flying Officer Carter made a safe landing by parachute and immediately began planning to evade capture. He had previously made a study of escaping and was carrying with him several special aids he had equipped himself with, including simple civilian clothes which he wore underneath his uniform. His efforts were so successful that he finally returned to this country on 9 April 1943.

For the thoroughness with which he prepared for the contingency, and the tenacity he showed in avoiding capture and returning to this country, Flying Officer Carter is recommended for the immediate award of the Distinguished Flying Cross.

This officer is a most determined and reliable navigator. Since being awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross he has performed his duties with exceptional accuracy, resulting in the successful completion of many missions. He has continued to display outstanding enthusiasm for operational flying with marked ability and great devotion to duty.

Landed in field in young farmer's arms. Made way from Nap Barry towards Pontivy, where stayed at Grand Cafe (I was fluent in French). Picked up there by Guy Lenfant, London-based French agent. Spent a fortnight accompanying him on a rms transports (by bike). Rendezvous with Royal Navy sub off north coast having failed, Lenfant entrusted us to Timadeuc Trappist monastery at Rohan. A week later George Jouanjean convoyed us to Paris only to find that Gestapo had bust the Pat O'Leary line. Back to Brittany to meet George's sister, Janine, my wife-to-be. Sailed on 7 April in derelict fishing boat with 16 Frenchmen from Treboul harbour (near Douarnenez) and reached the Lizard (Cornwall) three days later.

Returned to squadron on 26 April. Completed 51 Pathfinder Force operations. Baled out over airfield on 20 December 1943. Shot down en route to Leipzig on 19 February 1944 (78 aircraft lost). POW at Stalag Luft III (Sagan, Silesia). Liberated near Lubeck. Returned to Britain, then France to marry Janine (on compassionate leave!). To Canada on Ile de France. Demobbed in Montreal in August 1945.