Frank Reginald Carey
Encyclopedia
Group Captain
Frank Reginald "Chota" Carey CBE
, DFC
& Two Bars, AFC
, DFM
(7 May 1912 - 6 December 2004) was an English World War II
fighter ace with 25 victories, three shared destroyed, four unconfirmed destroyed, four probables and eight damaged. He was the second-highest scoring Hawker Hurricane
fighter ace of the war.
, London and educated at Belverdere School, Haywards Heath
. He joined the Royal Air Force
in September 1927 as an aircraft apprentice at RAF Halton
and later an airframe fitter. In 1935 Carey was selected for pilot training and passed out as a Sergeant Pilot joining 43 Squadron
flying the Hawker Fury
and in 1938 converting to the Hawker Hurricane
.
of KG 26 near Coquet Island
on his first aerial combat. No. 43 Squadron were moved to Acklington
in February 1940, and on 3 February Carey and his wingman claimed another KG 26 He-111, the aircraft ditching in the sea. Another He-111 was shared destroyed the following month and by 21 February Carey was awarded the Distinguished Flying Medal
. On 1 March 1940 he was commissioned.
In April 1940 he joined 3 Squadron
, based at Merville
in France. On 10 May 1940 he claimed four Heinkel He-111s (1 unconfirmed) of KG 54 and KG 27 to become only the third RAF ace of the war. Another KG 54 He-111 was claimed the next day. Two Ju-87 Stukas, a Do 17 and two He-111s were claimed destroyed or damaged on 13 May, and on 14 May he shot down a Dornier Do 17
of 3.(F)/11 near Louvain
. In this action he was hit by gunfire and crashed near Brussels
. Despite a leg wound he managed to regain Allied Lines, and after treatment Carey was eventually taken to No. 26 Aircraft Depot, where other shot-down aircrew were awaiting to rejoin their units. After days of inactivity and confusion, Carey and the other personnel found a servicable Bristol Bombay
transport at a nearby airfield and flew it back to Hendon
in the UK on 7 June, Carey acting as rear-gunner for the trip. On arrival he found he had been officially posted as missing in action.
Carey was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross
and bar for his actions. In June he re-joined 43 Squadron
at RAF Tangmere
as a Flight Commander.
unfolded Carey increased his number of victories. On 19 July he claimed one Bf 109 destroyed and three damaged, and a Ju 88 'probable' on 12 August. He then shared in the downing of a Ju 88 of LG 1 on 15 August. Two Ju 87's (and two 'probables') were claimed over Selsey Bill
on 16 August. At the height of the battle on 18 August 1940, a date known as The Hardest Day
, Carey was leading the Squadron against a raid of Ju 87s
and Bf 109s
over Thorney Island
. He shot down a Ju 87 of StG 77 but was hit in the knee by a stray bullet. Due to enemy action he could not land at Tangmere airfield and had to crash land his Hawker Hurricane
at Pulborough
. After medical treatment in Chichester
and recuperation Carey was posted to a No. 52 OTU at Debden
as an Instructor, returning briefly to operations with 245 Squadron
in Northern Ireland. Shortly after he returned to a training post until in August 1941 he was posted to RAF Baginton to form 135 Squadron
as Squadron Commander.
'Nate' flown by Sgt-Maj Nagashima of the 77th Sentai over the RAF airfield at Mingaladon Township
, Rangoon (now the site of Yangon International Airport
). This victory incorrecly appears as on 4 February in his official tally. In early February he was promoted to Wing Commander
, commanding the two fighter squadrons that formed 267 Wing at Mingaladon. He downed a reconnaissance aircraft of 70th Chutai on 23 February, and a 'transport' and another Ki-27 on 24 February. On 26 February Carey led seven Hurricanes in a ground strafe of Moulmein airfield. They spotted several Ki-27 "Nate" fighters returning to the airfield, and in the ensuing combat Carey claimed three (of a total of five) claimed shot down, with possibly others destroyed or damaged on the ground. Carey was chased out over the Gulf of Martaban
, suffering heavy damage to his Hurricane. He was awarded a second bar to his DFC on 24 March for leading this and further ground strafing missions on the airfield and installations around Moulmein during March 1942.
Carey had now gained the Indian nickname 'Chota' ('small') because of his size. His last claim was on 25 October 1942 when a Nakijima Ki-43 'Oscar' was a probable victory. He was attacked on take-off from Chittagong
by a number of Oscars and after a battle at very low level an Oscar reportedly flew into a hill. His tally against the Japanese is officially at least seven, but with the Allies in full retreat at the time and many records lost there are many who fought alongside Carey that consider he destroyed considerably more, possibly taking his tally to over 30.
Carey was taken off operations in late 1942 and then commanded RAF Alipore. He was sent to Air HQ, Bengal, and then in February 1943 formed the 'Air Fighting Training Unit' based at Amarda Road. In November 1944 he was posted to command 73 OTU in Egypt as a Group Captain, receiving the AFC.
. After attending the Army Staff College he reverted to the rank of wing commander to lead No 135 Wing, 2nd Tactical Air Force in Germany, flying Hawker Tempests. Converting to jets he moved to Gutersloh
as wing commander, flying.
He was also Air Adviser, British High Commission in Australia from 1958 to 1962; He was also became a Commander of the British Empire in 1960 and then worked for Rolls Royce
Aero Division in Australia. On his retirement from Rolls Royce he returned to England. Carey married three times and had two daughters, he died in 2004. His final years were spent in Bognor Regis.
Group Captain
Group captain is a senior commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many other Commonwealth countries. It ranks above wing commander and immediately below air commodore...
Frank Reginald "Chota" Carey CBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
, DFC
Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)
The Distinguished Flying Cross is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force and other services, and formerly to officers of other Commonwealth countries, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active operations against...
& Two Bars, AFC
Air Force Cross (United Kingdom)
The Air Force Cross is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the United Kingdom Armed Forces, and formerly also to officers of the other Commonwealth countries, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying, though not in active operations against the enemy"...
, DFM
Distinguished Flying Medal
The Distinguished Flying Medal was a military decoration awarded to personnel of the Royal Air Force and the other services, and formerly also to personnel of other Commonwealth countries, below commissioned rank, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active...
(7 May 1912 - 6 December 2004) was an English World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
fighter ace with 25 victories, three shared destroyed, four unconfirmed destroyed, four probables and eight damaged. He was the second-highest scoring Hawker Hurricane
Hawker Hurricane
The Hawker Hurricane is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was designed and predominantly built by Hawker Aircraft Ltd for the Royal Air Force...
fighter ace of the war.
Early life
Carey was born in BrixtonBrixton
Brixton is a district in the London Borough of Lambeth in south London, England. It is south south-east of Charing Cross. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London....
, London and educated at Belverdere School, Haywards Heath
Haywards Heath
-Climate:Haywards Heath experiences an oceanic climate similar to almost all of the United Kingdom.-Rail:Haywards Heath railway station is a major station on the Brighton Main Line...
. He joined the Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
in September 1927 as an aircraft apprentice at RAF Halton
RAF Halton
RAF Halton is one of the largest Royal Air Force stations in the United Kingdom, located near the village of Halton near Wendover, Buckinghamshire.HRH The Duchess of Cornwall is the Honorary Air Commodore of RAF Halton.-History:...
and later an airframe fitter. In 1935 Carey was selected for pilot training and passed out as a Sergeant Pilot joining 43 Squadron
No. 43 Squadron RAF
No. 43 Squadron was a Royal Air Force aircraft squadron originally formed in 1916 as part of the Royal Flying Corps. It last operated the Panavia Tornado F3 from RAF Leuchars, Scotland in the air defence role until disbanded in July 2009.-In World War I:...
flying the Hawker Fury
Hawker Fury
The Hawker Fury was a British biplane fighter aircraft used by the Royal Air Force in the 1930s. It was originally named the Hornet and was the counterpart to the Hawker Hart light bomber.-Design and development:...
and in 1938 converting to the Hawker Hurricane
Hawker Hurricane
The Hawker Hurricane is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was designed and predominantly built by Hawker Aircraft Ltd for the Royal Air Force...
.
World War II
On 30 January 1940, soon after the war started, Carey shared (with F/L. Caesar Hull) the destruction of a Heinkel He 111Heinkel He 111
The Heinkel He 111 was a German aircraft designed by Siegfried and Walter Günter in the early 1930s in violation of the Treaty of Versailles. Often described as a "Wolf in sheep's clothing", it masqueraded as a transport aircraft, but its purpose was to provide the Luftwaffe with a fast medium...
of KG 26 near Coquet Island
Coquet Island, England
Coquet Island is a small island of about , situated off Amble on the Northumberland coast, northeast England.The Island is owned by the Duke of Northumberland...
on his first aerial combat. No. 43 Squadron were moved to Acklington
Acklington
Acklington is a small village in Northumberland, England. It is situated to the south-west of Amble, inland from the North Sea coast. It is served by Acklington railway station...
in February 1940, and on 3 February Carey and his wingman claimed another KG 26 He-111, the aircraft ditching in the sea. Another He-111 was shared destroyed the following month and by 21 February Carey was awarded the Distinguished Flying Medal
Distinguished Flying Medal
The Distinguished Flying Medal was a military decoration awarded to personnel of the Royal Air Force and the other services, and formerly also to personnel of other Commonwealth countries, below commissioned rank, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active...
. On 1 March 1940 he was commissioned.
In April 1940 he joined 3 Squadron
No. 3 Squadron RAF
No 3 Squadron of the Royal Air Force operates the Typhoon F2, FGR4 and T3 from RAF Coningsby, Lincolnshire.No 3 Squadron, which celebrated its 95th anniversary over the weekend of 11-13 May 2007, is unique in the RAF for having two official crests....
, based at Merville
Merville
Merville is the name or part of the name of several communes in France:* Merville, in the Haute-Garonne département* Merville, in the Nord département* Merville-Franceville-Plage, in the Calvados département...
in France. On 10 May 1940 he claimed four Heinkel He-111s (1 unconfirmed) of KG 54 and KG 27 to become only the third RAF ace of the war. Another KG 54 He-111 was claimed the next day. Two Ju-87 Stukas, a Do 17 and two He-111s were claimed destroyed or damaged on 13 May, and on 14 May he shot down a Dornier Do 17
Dornier Do 17
The Dornier Do 17, sometimes referred to as the Fliegender Bleistift , was a World War II German light bomber produced by Claudius Dornier's company, Dornier Flugzeugwerke...
of 3.(F)/11 near Louvain
Leuven
Leuven is the capital of the province of Flemish Brabant in the Flemish Region, Belgium...
. In this action he was hit by gunfire and crashed near Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
. Despite a leg wound he managed to regain Allied Lines, and after treatment Carey was eventually taken to No. 26 Aircraft Depot, where other shot-down aircrew were awaiting to rejoin their units. After days of inactivity and confusion, Carey and the other personnel found a servicable Bristol Bombay
Bristol Bombay
|-See also:...
transport at a nearby airfield and flew it back to Hendon
Hendon
Hendon is a London suburb situated northwest of Charing Cross.-History:Hendon was historically a civil parish in the county of Middlesex. The manor is described in Domesday , but the name, 'Hendun' meaning 'at the highest hill', is earlier...
in the UK on 7 June, Carey acting as rear-gunner for the trip. On arrival he found he had been officially posted as missing in action.
Carey was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross
Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)
The Distinguished Flying Cross is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force and other services, and formerly to officers of other Commonwealth countries, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active operations against...
and bar for his actions. In June he re-joined 43 Squadron
No. 43 Squadron RAF
No. 43 Squadron was a Royal Air Force aircraft squadron originally formed in 1916 as part of the Royal Flying Corps. It last operated the Panavia Tornado F3 from RAF Leuchars, Scotland in the air defence role until disbanded in July 2009.-In World War I:...
at RAF Tangmere
RAF Tangmere
RAF Tangmere was a Royal Air Force station famous for its role in the Battle of Britain, located at Tangmere village about 3 miles east of Chichester in West Sussex, England. American RAF pilot Billy Fiske died at Tangmere and was the first American aviator to die during World War II...
as a Flight Commander.
Battle of Britain
As the Battle of BritainBattle of Britain
The Battle of Britain is the name given to the World War II air campaign waged by the German Air Force against the United Kingdom during the summer and autumn of 1940...
unfolded Carey increased his number of victories. On 19 July he claimed one Bf 109 destroyed and three damaged, and a Ju 88 'probable' on 12 August. He then shared in the downing of a Ju 88 of LG 1 on 15 August. Two Ju 87's (and two 'probables') were claimed over Selsey Bill
Selsey Bill
Selsey Bill is a headland into the English Channel on the south coast of England in the county of West Sussex.The southern most town in Sussex is Selsey which is at the end of the Selsey Peninsula and Selsey Bill is situated on the towns southerncoastline...
on 16 August. At the height of the battle on 18 August 1940, a date known as The Hardest Day
The Hardest Day
The Hardest Day was the name of a Second World War air battle fought during the Battle of Britain on 18 August 1940, by the Luftwaffe and British Royal Air Force . By June 1940 the Allies had been defeated in Western Europe and Scandinavia...
, Carey was leading the Squadron against a raid of Ju 87s
Junkers Ju 87
The Junkers Ju 87 or Stuka was a two-man German ground-attack aircraft...
and Bf 109s
Messerschmitt Bf 109
The Messerschmitt Bf 109, often called Me 109, was a German World War II fighter aircraft designed by Willy Messerschmitt and Robert Lusser during the early to mid 1930s...
over Thorney Island
Thorney Island
There are two Thorney Islands known to Wikipedia, both in England:*Thorney Island *Thorney Island...
. He shot down a Ju 87 of StG 77 but was hit in the knee by a stray bullet. Due to enemy action he could not land at Tangmere airfield and had to crash land his Hawker Hurricane
Hawker Hurricane
The Hawker Hurricane is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was designed and predominantly built by Hawker Aircraft Ltd for the Royal Air Force...
at Pulborough
Pulborough
Pulborough is a large village and civil parish in the Horsham district of West Sussex, England, with some 5,000 inhabitants. It is located almost centrally within West Sussex and is south west of London. It is at the junction of the north-south A29 and the east-west roads.The village is near the...
. After medical treatment in Chichester
Chichester
Chichester is a cathedral city in West Sussex, within the historic County of Sussex, South-East England. It has a long history as a settlement; its Roman past and its subsequent importance in Anglo-Saxon times are only its beginnings...
and recuperation Carey was posted to a No. 52 OTU at Debden
Debden
Debden could mean:* Debden, Epping Forest, England** Debden House, adult education college** Debden tube station* Debden, Uttlesford, England** RAF Debden* Debden, Saskatchewan, Canada...
as an Instructor, returning briefly to operations with 245 Squadron
No. 245 Squadron RAF
No. 245 Squadron was a squadron of the Royal Air Force. It flew as an anti-submarine squadron during World War I and as a fighter squadron during World War II. After the war it was first a jet-fighter squadron and its last role was as a radar-calibration unit....
in Northern Ireland. Shortly after he returned to a training post until in August 1941 he was posted to RAF Baginton to form 135 Squadron
No. 135 Squadron RAF
No. 135 Squadron RAF was a Royal Air Force Squadron formed to be a bomber unit in World War I and reformed as a fighter unit in World War II.-Formation and World War I:No...
as Squadron Commander.
Far East
Originally intended for service in the Middle East, in December 1941 Carey and No. 135 Squadron were diverted to reinforce the severely-pressed Allied Air Forces in Burma. The first four fighters arrived in Rangoon on 23 January. On 29 January 1942 he claimed his first Japanese victory when he shot down a Nakajima Ki-27Nakajima Ki-27
The was the main fighter aircraft used by the Imperial Japanese Army Air Force up until 1940. Its Allied nickname was "Nate", although it was called "Abdul" in the "China Burma India" theater by many post war sources; Allied Intelligence had reserved that name for the nonexistent Mitsubishi Navy...
'Nate' flown by Sgt-Maj Nagashima of the 77th Sentai over the RAF airfield at Mingaladon Township
Mingaladon Township
Mingaladon Township is located in the northernmost part of Yangon, Myanmar. The township comprises 31 wards, and shares borders with Hmawbi township in the north, North Okkalapa township in the east, Insein township and Shwepyitha township in the west, and Mayangon township in the south...
, Rangoon (now the site of Yangon International Airport
Yangon International Airport
Yangon International Airport , located in Mingaladon, at north of downtown Yangon, is the primary international airport of Myanmar and the second largest airport in the country....
). This victory incorrecly appears as on 4 February in his official tally. In early February he was promoted to Wing Commander
Wing Commander (rank)
Wing commander is a commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many other Commonwealth countries...
, commanding the two fighter squadrons that formed 267 Wing at Mingaladon. He downed a reconnaissance aircraft of 70th Chutai on 23 February, and a 'transport' and another Ki-27 on 24 February. On 26 February Carey led seven Hurricanes in a ground strafe of Moulmein airfield. They spotted several Ki-27 "Nate" fighters returning to the airfield, and in the ensuing combat Carey claimed three (of a total of five) claimed shot down, with possibly others destroyed or damaged on the ground. Carey was chased out over the Gulf of Martaban
Gulf of Martaban
The Gulf of Martaban is an arm of the Andaman Sea in the southern part of Burma. The gulf is named after the port city of Mottama . The Salween Sittaung and Yangon rivers empty into it....
, suffering heavy damage to his Hurricane. He was awarded a second bar to his DFC on 24 March for leading this and further ground strafing missions on the airfield and installations around Moulmein during March 1942.
Carey had now gained the Indian nickname 'Chota' ('small') because of his size. His last claim was on 25 October 1942 when a Nakijima Ki-43 'Oscar' was a probable victory. He was attacked on take-off from Chittagong
Chittagong
Chittagong ) is a city in southeastern Bangladesh and the capital of an eponymous district and division. Built on the banks of the Karnaphuli River, the city is home to Bangladesh's busiest seaport and has a population of over 4.5 million, making it the second largest city in the country.A trading...
by a number of Oscars and after a battle at very low level an Oscar reportedly flew into a hill. His tally against the Japanese is officially at least seven, but with the Allies in full retreat at the time and many records lost there are many who fought alongside Carey that consider he destroyed considerably more, possibly taking his tally to over 30.
Carey was taken off operations in late 1942 and then commanded RAF Alipore. He was sent to Air HQ, Bengal, and then in February 1943 formed the 'Air Fighting Training Unit' based at Amarda Road. In November 1944 he was posted to command 73 OTU in Egypt as a Group Captain, receiving the AFC.
Australia
He returned to England in 1945 and was given a permanent commission and taught tactics at the Central Fighter EstablishmentCentral Fighter Establishment
The Central Fighter Establishment was a Royal Air Force formation that dealt with the development Fighter aircraft tactics. It also tested new fighter aircraft and equipment. It also dealt with the training of squadron and flight commanders. It was formed on 1 October 1944 as part of No. 12 Group...
. After attending the Army Staff College he reverted to the rank of wing commander to lead No 135 Wing, 2nd Tactical Air Force in Germany, flying Hawker Tempests. Converting to jets he moved to Gutersloh
Gütersloh
Gütersloh is a city in North Rhine-Westphalia, in the area of Westphalia and the administrative region of Detmold. Gütersloh is the administrative centre for a district of the same name and has a population of 96,320 people.- Geography :...
as wing commander, flying.
He was also Air Adviser, British High Commission in Australia from 1958 to 1962; He was also became a Commander of the British Empire in 1960 and then worked for Rolls Royce
Rolls-Royce Limited
Rolls-Royce Limited was a renowned British car and, from 1914 on, aero-engine manufacturing company founded by Charles Stewart Rolls and Henry Royce on 15 March 1906 as the result of a partnership formed in 1904....
Aero Division in Australia. On his retirement from Rolls Royce he returned to England. Carey married three times and had two daughters, he died in 2004. His final years were spent in Bognor Regis.
Awards and decorations
- Distinguished Flying MedalDistinguished Flying MedalThe Distinguished Flying Medal was a military decoration awarded to personnel of the Royal Air Force and the other services, and formerly also to personnel of other Commonwealth countries, below commissioned rank, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active...
- 1 March 1940. - Distinguished Flying Cross & BarDistinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)The Distinguished Flying Cross is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force and other services, and formerly to officers of other Commonwealth countries, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active operations against...
- 31 May 1940. - Second bar to the Distinguished Flying CrossDistinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)The Distinguished Flying Cross is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force and other services, and formerly to officers of other Commonwealth countries, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active operations against...
- 24 March 1942. - Air Force CrossAir Force Cross (United Kingdom)The Air Force Cross is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the United Kingdom Armed Forces, and formerly also to officers of the other Commonwealth countries, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying, though not in active operations against the enemy"...
- 1 January 1945. - Silver StarSilver StarThe Silver Star is the third-highest combat military decoration that can be awarded to a member of any branch of the United States armed forces for valor in the face of the enemy....
(United States) - 11 June 1946. - Commander of the British Empire - 11 June 1960.