Chaddesley Corbett RAF pilot rewarded for Arctic convoy heroics

Buy photos » Eric Carter (second from the left) became one of the first people to be presented with the Arctic Star. s

A FORMER RAF pilot from Chaddesley Corbett who flew Spitfires in World War II has become one of the first in the country to receive one of the new Arctic Convoy medals.

Eric Carter, 93, was presented with the Arctic Star by Prime Minister David Cameron at Number 10 Downing Street on Tuesday (March 19).

He was part of Operation Benedict which saw a squadron sent out to protect the Northern Russian port of Murmansk in 1941.

Eric’s son Andrew came over from America specially for the event.

Mr Carter said: “I was quite surprised when I received the invite - it has been a long time coming.

“We had a meal at Number 10 in a room with a portrait of Lady Thatcher on the wall. We then went into another room to be presented with the medals.”

After that, the group went to HMS Belfast. Mr Carter added he and his son had a really good day.

“Going to Downing Street is something that not a lot of people get to do.”

During his speech, Mr Cameron said those gathered were involved in the most important struggle of the last 100 years - to help an ally in the battle to defeat Hitler and defeat Fascism in Europe.

“I’m only sorry that it’s taken 70 years to get you here and to say thank you for what you did. And you showed incredible bravery - incredible courage, against extraordinary odds.”

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