Operation: Circus 35

Date: 6th July 1941 (Sunday)

Unit No: 74 Squadron (Trinidad - Motto: 'I Fear No Man')

Type: Spitfire Vb

Serial: W3176

Code: ZP:?

Base: RAF Biggin Hill, Greater London

Location: Wormhout, France

Pilot: Flt Sgt. Leslie Raymond Carter 754236 RAFVR Age 21. MiA

REASON FOR LOSS:

Flt Sgt. Carter took off on an offensive sweep from Biggin Hill at 13:35 hrs. Failed to return

Shot down over France during the afternoon of 6th July 1941 along with 2 other Spitfires from the same Squadron. Escorting six Stirlings who were attacking Lille steel works, Hptm. Pingel's first gruppe made contact over Lille but low fuel forced them to break off over the English channel.

The other two from the squadron were:

Plt Off. Wilfred Malcolm Skinner 68722 DFM in Spitfire Vb W3208, PoW No: 1623, Stalag Luft Sagan. He Passed away on the 26th June 2003.

On the 30th August 1940 flying Spitfire X4022 he collided with the Spitfire of Plt Off. Edward Churches 39900 RNZAF - both pilots survived.

Plt Off. Edward Walter Gillie Churches was posted MiA on the 19th April 1941 flying Spitfire P7381 during a routine patrol.

Sgt. William Guy Lockhart in Spitfire 748117 Vb W3317 who evaded capture but was interned in Spain.

Sgt. William Guy Lockhart: After his evasion then as a Wg Cdr. flying with 7 squadron, Bomber Command, was shot down flying Lancaster III JB676 MG:K on the 28th April 1944. He was KiA with all his crew.

Flt Sgt. Leslie Carter was shot down by Hptm. Adolph who was commanding officer II./JG26 - his 19th Abschuss. The Spitfire crashed at Wormhout at 14:45 hrs.

Flt Sgt. Carter flying Spitfire I X4554 escaped an earlier incident whilst serving with 41 Squadron. On 11th October 1940 at 16:25 hrs. another Spitfire I X4052 flown by 25 year old, Fg Off. Desmond Hugh O'Neill collided with him. Flt Sgt. Carter managed to bail out safely, however, even though Fg Off. O'Neill although managed to bail out, his parachute failed to open and he was killed.

Burial Details:

Flt Sgt. Leslie Raymond Carter. Runnymede Memorial. Panel 35. Born on the 15th April 1920 at St. Albans, the son of Albert William and Jeanetta Caroline Carter, of Shenley, Hertfordshire, England.

Others:

Fg Off. Desmond Hugh O'neill. Streatham Park Cemetery. Square 7A. Grave 12104. Son of Lt Col. Edward Martin Marie O'Neill, and Ethel May O'Neill, of Glasnevin, Co. Dublin, Irish Republic and husband of Muriel O'Neill;

Plt Off. Edward Walter Gillie Churches. Runnymede Memorial. Panel 63. No further information - are you able to assist?

Researched by Kelvin Youngs (Webmaster) for Mark Carter - nephew of Flt Sgt. Leslie Raymond Carter. Updated by Kelvin Youngs (Feb 2019). Updated by Aircrew Remembered (Dec 2022)

Other sources listed below:

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