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Irwin W. Carter

NAME
Irwin Wells Carter
NICKNAME
SERVICE NUMBER
O-7542
UNIT
VMF-121
Pilot
HOME OF RECORD
4308 Juanita Way South, St. Petersburg, FL
NEXT OF KIN
Father, Mr. Toppy L. Carter Sr.
DATE OF BIRTH
February 24, 1921
ENTERED SERVICE
April 17, 1941
DATE OF LOSS
January 4, 1943
REGION
Solomon Islands
CAMPAIGN / AREA
Out of Guadalcanal
CASUALTY TYPE
Missing In Action
Declared Dead January 5, 1944
CIRCUMSTANCES OF LOSS
Captain Irwin W. Cater was a Marine fighter pilot serving with the Cactus Air Force. He arrived on Guadalcanal as a member of VMF-122 on 22 December 1942, and transferred to VMF-121 on 1 January 1943.

On 4 January 1943, Carter was assigned to fly cover over friendly ships in the Solomon Islands. At dusk, his four-plane flight began the hundred mile journey back to Guadalcanal. A severe tropical storm scattered the pilots; two returned late and low on gas, and one was forced down but rescued several days later.

Captain Carter and F4F-4 Bureau Number 3450 were never seen again. The pilot was declared dead on 5 January 1944.

INDIVIDUAL DECORATIONS
Distinguished Flying Cross, Purple Heart
LAST KNOWN RANK
First Lieutenant
posthumous Captain
STATUS OF REMAINS
Missing in action
MEMORIALS
Manila American Cemetery

Biography:
Coming soon. Contact the webmaster for more information about this Marine.


Articles & Records:


Photo Gallery:

Captain Carter (circled) with VMF-121 in January 1943, shortly before his disappearance.

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