Rank and Name, Aviation Radioman Second Class Arthur David Carter.
Unit/Placed in, Torpedo Squadron 24 (VT-24) embarked from the USS Belleau Wood (CV-24), United States Naval Reserve.
Arthur is born approx. on 23 Dec. 1922 in New York.
Father, David Thomas Carter.
Mother, Florence Carter.
Arthur enlisted the service in New York with service number # 7064889.
Arthur‘s Crew-members and their position on-board the plane a Grumman TBF Avenger were,
Ltjg. Ernest W. Wood Pilot
Arm2. Arthur D. Carter Radio Operator/Bombadier
Aom2. Robert B. Wagenknecht Gunner
Arthur was KIA when they were shot down over Truk, during the Truk-Satawan-Ponape raid on 29 April 1944, he is honored with an Air Medal with Gold Star, Purple Heart, Combat Action Ribbon, Good Conduct Medal, Expeditionary Medal, American Campaign Medal, Navy & Marine Presidential Unit Citation, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, WW II Victory Medal.
Arthur is buried/mentioned at Manila American Cemetery and Memorial Manila, Metro Manila, National Capital Region, Philippines.
Walls of the missing.
Thanks to,
Jean Louis Vijgen, ww2-Pacific.com ww2-europe.com
Air Force Info, Rolland Swank.
ABMC Website, https://abmc.gov
Marines Info, https://missingmarines.com/ Geoffrey Roecker
Seabees History Bob Smith https://seabeehf.org/
Navy Info, http://navylog.navymemorial.org
POW Info, http://www.mansell.com Dwight Rider and Wes injerd.
Philippine Info, http://www.philippine-scouts.org/ Robert Capistrano
National Historian
Navy Seal Memorial, http://www.navysealmemorials.com
Family Info, https://www.familysearch.org
Info, https://www.pacificwrecks.com/
Medals Info, https://www.honorstates.org
Find a Grave, https://www.findagrave.com
Tank Destroyers, http://www.bensavelkoul.nl/
Aviation Radioman 2nd Class Arthur D. Carter, 7064889, Radioman, Avenger Torpedo Bomber, Torpedo Squadron 24, Air Group 24, U.S.S. Belleau Wood. Killed in Action on 29 April 1944 when his Torpedo Bomber was shot down during a raid on Truk. Born on 23 December 1922, he entered the service on 19 August 1942 from Bronx, New York.
Before the war, Arthur Carter worked as a clerk. He enlisted in the Navy at 19 years old and following training was assigned as an Aviation Radioman in Scouting Squadron 24 on 31 December 1942. On 1 March 1943 this squadron became Composite Squadron 24 (VC-24) where it joined the U.S.S. Belleau Wood on 30 April 1943 before becoming Torpedo Squadron 24 (VT-24) on 15 December 1943. ARM3c Carter completed three months of air crew train on board the carrier and earned his Aircrewman Insignia on 16 July 1943. He completed another important milestone for a sailor when the U.S.S. Belleau Wood crossed the equator on 1 September 1943 and ARM3c Carter became a qualified “Shellback.”
On 29 April 1944, ARM2c Carter was radioman on a Avenger Torpedo Bomber piloted by Lt.(jg). Ernest W. Wood, Jr with AOM2c Robert B. Wagenknecht as the rear gunner. They were conducting a “glide bombing” mission on Truk Island. Flying threw intense Japanese anti-aircraft fire, their aircraft was seen to have released its bombs before beginning to smoke. The plane then crashed into the sea at a 35 degree angle. No survivors were located.
ARM2c Carter’s body was never recovered and is listed on the Tablet of the Missing at Manila American Cemetery, Manila, Philippines. He was 21 years old.
