Carter, Charles Binden

Date of birth:: September 3rd, 1919 (Belfast/Northern Ireland, United Kingdom)
Date of death:: September 25th, 1944 (Arnhem, The Netherlands)
Buried on:: Air Forces Memorial Runnymede
Service number:: 1151995 (NCO)/132348 (Officer)
Nationality:: British (1801-present, Kingdom)

Biography

Promotions:
? Temporary Flight Sergeant
3 September, 1942: Pilot Officer on Probation (emergency)
3 March, 1943: Flying Officer on Probation (emergency)
3 September, 1944: Flight Lieutenant (war sub)

Charles Bindon Carter was born on 3 September 1919 in Belfast, Northern Ireland. His father was Charles Stafford
Carter (1871 – 1931) and his mother was Frances Grace Stanley Carter neé Price (1887 – unknown). His brothers were John Stanley Carter (1921 – 2002), and William Grace Rothwell Carter (1924 – 2011). He was married to Helena "Helen" Herdman Johnston (born 1902). He was commonly known as Bindon, rather than Charles.
Charles joined the RAF Volunteer Reserves in 1940.

In 1942 he was in 88 Squadron with the rank of Sergeant. In July 1942 he was the Wireless Operator/Air Gunner of an aircraft detailed to attack a target near Lille, France. Owing to bad visibility the primary objective could not be located but an alternative was attacked from a low level in spite of heavy fire from the ground defences. During the run up, he silenced one enemy gun position but his aircraft was repeatedly hit by light anti-aircraft fire. A cannon shell entered the gunner's cockpit, wounding him in the right hand and arm. This caused the explosion of a verey cartridge (a flare) and set some ammunition on fire. Despite his wounds he continued to engage the enemy, delivering effective fire at the enemy's gun positions. When the aircraft flew clear of the fire zone, he extinguished the fire in the well of the aircraft and continued to man his guns.

Following this, he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Medal on 14 August 1942, with the report stating: "by his
skilful gunnery this airman contributed materially to the success of the operation. He has completed numerous sorties
and has always set a high standard of efficiency".

On 3 September 1942 he was made Pilot Officer on Probation (emergency). On 3 March 1943 he was made Flying
Officer on Probation (emergency).

Later, in 1943, Charles was assigned to 107 Squadron. He was recommended for the Distinguished Flying Cross on 9
November (the same year).

On 3 September 1944 he was assigned to 98 Squadron, based out of Dunsfold, Surrey, in the rank of Flight Lieutenant (war sub).

On 25 Sept 1944, he was part of the crew of flight FW194 "N-Norman" (VO-N), a Mitchell B-25 bomber.
The crew of the flight were:
• RAAF (Australian) 428538: Flight Sergeant Bruce Llewellyn Williams (Pilot)
• RAAF (Australian) 425684: Flying Officer Thomas John Lennie (Navigator Bomber)
• RCAF (Canadian) R126227: Warrant Officer (later J92229 Pilot Officer) Henry Frank Bowmaster (Wireless Operator/
Air Gunner)
• RAF 132348 Flight Lieutenant Charles Bindon Carter DFC DFM (Air Gunner)

The details of this event as compiled by Ken Bowmaster (son of Henry Frank Bowmaster, the Wireless Operator) with
additions from various sources by Nezih Savaşkan is as follows:

At approximately 15:08 on 25 September 1944 a flight of twelve 98 Squadron Mitchell B-25 bombers, escorted by six
Spitfire IX fighters took off from Dunsfold air base in Surrey, England. Their mission was to bomb (from a height of

10,000 feet) a bridge in Schaarsbergen, north of Arnhem, which had been occupied by German forces with Flak (anti-
aircraft) equipment. This was in support of the withdrawal of the British paratroop brigade from Operation Market Garden.
That bridge is now known as The John Frost Bridge, but was then referred to as "A Bridge Too Far."
Close to their destination, they were attacked by a flight of twenty Focke-Wulf FW190A fighter aircraft of the IV
Gruppe / Jagdgeschwader 54.

A mêlée ensued during which six Spitfire escort planes protecting the Mitchell formation were shot down. FW194 VO-
N was pounded with 20 mm cannon fire from the German FW190s and was critically damaged. It's believed that the fatal damage was caused by Major Wolfgang Späte, the FW190 Gruppenkommandeur.

We believe that this is when Lennie was killed and the plane was hit in such a way that at least two of the 500lb bombs were prematurely released, one striking a church killing four refugees housed within, and one landing in the woods near Kemperbergerweg. This one did not explode, and was found and dismantled in 2010.

A fighter coming in from below and raking the Mitchell with sustained cannon fire would also account for the rear hatch being jammed and possibly the inability of Carter, the rear gunner to escape the plane. With the plane going down Bowman tried to free Carter but was unable to do so. Upon trying to escape, Bowman found the hatch jammed partway open: he could not get through with his chute on. He pushed his parachute out through the opening and, while gripping the harness, put his head and shoulders through the opening and pulled the cord. He sustained some injuries being pulled through the hatch, but escaped. He then drifted to the ground where German troops were waiting and took him prisoner.

The plane continued on towards Arnhem where Williams bailed out only to be killed by German machine gunners as he drifted over the bridge onto Graslaan Street. His body was recovered by a seventeen year old local resident named Mr. Baars, who buried him in a temporary grave.

At about 17:00, FW194 crashed into a dyke near the John Frost bridge in Arnhem-zuid (Rhine Dike Malburgen) with
Lennie and Carter still inside. Nearby was a gas factory located at the Broekstraat and Westervoortsedijk roads, and a
Red Cross Hospital. This was the last day of the battle of Arnhem.

Charles' body was never found (and is thus officially missing), and he has no grave. He is however remembered on the Runnymede Memorial, Surrey, England.

On 1 January 1946 letter from the Air Ministry invited Helena Herdman Carter (Charles' wife) to attend a Presentation
of Decorations at Buckingham Palace, in order to receive a posthumous presentation of the Distinguished Flying Cross by the King.

A further letter dated 22 March 1946 from the Central Chancery of The Orders of Knighthood invites Helena to attend
Buckingham Palace on 9 April 1946 to accept, as next-of-kin, the Distinguished Flying Cross, from the King.
On 25 June 2011 a dedication ceremony of a plaque honouring the crew of FW194 took place at the Malburgen School in Arnhem, and at the crash site on the banks of the Rhine. The Master of ceremonies, Lieutenant Colonel Marc de Jong, 320 Dutch Squadron (retired), oversaw proceedings with the assistance of 25 volunteer sons and daughters of 320 Squadron veterans. Children from two schools who had undertaken the promise to maintain the plaque were present — the Dutch populace firmly believe in passing the history of the war down through generations.

Videos of the service

As a small boy, a gentleman called Mr. Groenewegen retrieved parts of FW194, and to this day he keeps them on
display at his home. He attended the above service, along with ken Bowmaster.

Distinguished Flying Medal (DFM)

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Sergeant
Unit:: No. 88 (Hong Kong) Squadron, Royal Air Force
Awarded on:: August 14th, 1942

Citation:
"In July, 1942, Sergeant Carter was the wireless opera tor/air gunner of an aircraft detailed to attack a target near Lille. Owing to bad visibility the primary objective could not be located but an alternative was attacked from a low level in spite of heavy fire from the ground defences. During the run up, Sergeant Carter silenced one enemy gun position but the aircraft was repeatedly hit by light anti-aircraft fire. A cannon shell .entered the gunner's' cockpit, wounded Sergeant .Carter in the right hand and arm, exploded a verey cartridge and set some ammunition on. fire. Despite his wounds, Sergeant Carter continued to engage the enemy, delivering effective fire at the enemy's gun positions. When the aircraft flew clear of the fire zone, Sergeant Carter extinguished the fire in the well of the aircraft and continued to man his guns. By his skilful gunnery this airman contributed materially to the success of the .operation. He has completed numerous sorties and has always set a high standard of efficiency. "

Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC)

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Flying Officer
Unit:: No. 107 Squadron, Royal Air Force
Awarded on:: January 25th, 1944

Recommendation:
"His formation was attacked by enemy fighters on crossing the coast into occupied territory. These attacks persisted along the whole route to the target. Flying Officer Carter’s direction of evasive action negated the enemy attacks so that his aircraft was undamaged and the bombing carried-out satisfactorily. At other times, when leading aircraft of formations his fire control and directions have been largely responsible for the subsequent safety of his aircraft as well as those of other crews taking part. Flying Officer Carter has set a standard in his squadron which has been the greatest asset to the development of morale, as well as in maintaining gunnery on a high level of skill. I consider him, by his coolness, courage and efficiency to merit the non-immediate award of the Distinguished Flying Cross."

Medal presented at Buckingham Palace Tuesday 9 April, 1946 by King GVI to his widow.