Alfred Williams Carter
Encyclopedia
Alfred Williams Carter DSC
(29 April 1894 - 17 December 1986) was a Canadian
First World War
flying ace
, officially credited with 17 victories.
The son of David and Martha Carter, Alfred Carter was born near Calgary
and enlisted in December 1915 in Ontario, where he had been a University student. In 1916 he joined the Royal Naval Air Service
and attended flight school in Florida.
Serving with 3 Wing, in June 1917 he was posted to No. 3 Naval Squadron and claimed 5 victories flying the Sopwith Pup
. In June 1917 he was transferred to No. 10 Naval Squadron as a flight commander and he scored 4 more victories, now flying the Sopwith Triplane
.
By November 1918, he had scored another 8 victories with the Sopwith Camel
.
His war time tally included 1 balloon, 1 aircraft captured, 4 and 1 shared destroyed, 9 and 1 shared 'out of control'.
After the war he worked for the Air Board until April 1922 and in 1923 he owned and operated an automobile dealership in Victoria, British Columbia.
He rejoined the RAF and served until 1953, becoming an Air Marshal and winning the OBE and MBE. He died on 17 December 1986.
This officer has at all times led his patrols with great courage, skill and pertinacity, often engaging superior numbers of hostile aircraft.
On 22 July 1917, he engaged, single-handed for half an hour, five enemy scouts which he prevented from carrying out a reconnaissance.
On 24 July 1917, with one other pilot, he attacked four enemy aircraft, one of which he drove down completely out of control."
Distinguished Service Cross (United Kingdom)
The Distinguished Service Cross is the third level military decoration awarded to officers, and other ranks, of the British Armed Forces, Royal Fleet Auxiliary and British Merchant Navy and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries.The DSC, which may be awarded posthumously, is...
(29 April 1894 - 17 December 1986) was a Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
First World War
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
flying ace
Flying ace
A flying ace or fighter ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down several enemy aircraft during aerial combat. The actual number of aerial victories required to officially qualify as an "ace" has varied, but is usually considered to be five or more...
, officially credited with 17 victories.
The son of David and Martha Carter, Alfred Carter was born near Calgary
Calgary
Calgary is a city in the Province of Alberta, Canada. It is located in the south of the province, in an area of foothills and prairie, approximately east of the front ranges of the Canadian Rockies...
and enlisted in December 1915 in Ontario, where he had been a University student. In 1916 he joined the Royal Naval Air Service
Royal Naval Air Service
The Royal Naval Air Service or RNAS was the air arm of the Royal Navy until near the end of the First World War, when it merged with the British Army's Royal Flying Corps to form a new service , the Royal Air Force...
and attended flight school in Florida.
Serving with 3 Wing, in June 1917 he was posted to No. 3 Naval Squadron and claimed 5 victories flying the Sopwith Pup
Sopwith Pup
The Sopwith Pup was a British single seater biplane fighter aircraft built by the Sopwith Aviation Company. It entered service with the Royal Flying Corps and the Royal Naval Air Service in the autumn of 1916. With pleasant flying characteristics and good maneuverability, the aircraft proved very...
. In June 1917 he was transferred to No. 10 Naval Squadron as a flight commander and he scored 4 more victories, now flying the Sopwith Triplane
Sopwith Triplane
The Sopwith Triplane was a British single seat fighter aircraft designed and manufactured by the Sopwith Aviation Company during the First World War. Pilots nicknamed it the Tripehound or simply the Tripe. The Triplane became operational with the Royal Naval Air Service in early 1917 and was...
.
By November 1918, he had scored another 8 victories with the Sopwith Camel
Sopwith Camel
The Sopwith Camel was a British First World War single-seat biplane fighter introduced on the Western Front in 1917. Manufactured by Sopwith Aviation Company, it had a short-coupled fuselage, heavy, powerful rotary engine, and concentrated fire from twin synchronized machine guns. Though difficult...
.
His war time tally included 1 balloon, 1 aircraft captured, 4 and 1 shared destroyed, 9 and 1 shared 'out of control'.
After the war he worked for the Air Board until April 1922 and in 1923 he owned and operated an automobile dealership in Victoria, British Columbia.
He rejoined the RAF and served until 1953, becoming an Air Marshal and winning the OBE and MBE. He died on 17 December 1986.
Distinguished Service Cross
"Flt. Sub-Lieut. (act. Flt. Lieut.) Alfred Williams Carter, R.N.A.S.This officer has at all times led his patrols with great courage, skill and pertinacity, often engaging superior numbers of hostile aircraft.
On 22 July 1917, he engaged, single-handed for half an hour, five enemy scouts which he prevented from carrying out a reconnaissance.
On 24 July 1917, with one other pilot, he attacked four enemy aircraft, one of which he drove down completely out of control."