Posted on 08/19/2012 4:22:49 PM PDT by Dysart
He survived the daily dangers of being a pilot in the Second World War and even risked his life on a clandestine operation in the Soviet Union.
Now aged 91, and seven decades on from his wartime exploits, Eric Carter has taken to the skies again at the controls of a rare two-seater Spitfire.
Earlier this year, museum officials denied Mr Carter the chance even to sit in the cockpit of a Spitfire because of health and safety rules.
'Just as I remembered it': Eric Carter, 91, said it 'all came back' after ten minutes of flying in the Spitfire. The pilot is the last surviving member of a task force sent to northern Russia in 1941 to protect supply routes
Mr Carter, the last surviving member of a 38-strong task force sent to northern Russia in 1941 to protect supply routes, said: ‘Amazing as it may seem it all came back to me after about ten minutes in the air.
‘The firing button and all the controls were right there, exactly as they were when I last flew the Spitfire.
'Amazing experience': The former World War II pilot is pictured flying in the rear of the plane, with co-pilot Dave Ratcliffe in the front
Mr Carter, from Chaddesley Corbett, Worcestershire, was sent to Russia with 37 other pilots as part of Force Benedict. They flew 365 sorties over four months to keep the port of Murmansk open, shooting down 11 Messerschmitt fighters and three Junkers 88 bombers.
The operation remained a secret for years because Stalin did not want to admit he had asked for help.
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
I didn’t realize Joe Biden was a pilot.
LOL! Sounds like my dad! Spent WWII in the Navy in the South Pacific. Never wanted to get on a museum ship and when I told him I was thinking about going into the Navy ROTC, he talked me out of it. Said it would be no better being an officer stuck in a tin can than enlisted.
I love this. Thanks for posting it, Dysart. This really touched my heart and choked me up.
I know, it’s touching. We won’t be reading too many more of these tales far along into the future. But this one’s preserved now.
I sent it to my 81 year old father who loves these stories, and maintains a sizable email list for just this sort of thing. He sounded giddy in response to it. I suspect a lot people are having this dropped into their inbox tonight.
Thanks for the WW2 Spitfire pilot flys again post.
Yay!
“High Flight”
Good on Mr. Carter. And the Supermarine Spitfire... one of the most beautiful aircraft ever to fly. Lucky dog!
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