Frank Reginald Carey

Frank Reginald “Chota” Carey was born on 7 May 1912 in Brixton, south London. He joined the RAF as an apprentice and was later selected for pilot training, passing out as a sergeant pilot and joining No. 43 Squadron, with which he flew the Hawker Fury and then the Hawker Hurricane. He claimed his first victory, a Heinkel He 111, in early 1940 and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Medal. Commissioned as a pilot officer, he flew with No. 3 Squadron in the Battle of France, earning the Distinguished Flying Cross for seven enemy aircraft destroyed. Back with 43 Squadron he fought through the Battle of Britain, being wounded yet adding further victories. Later he commanded No. 135 Squadron and fought the Japanese over Burma, raising his total to around 25 destroyed. Holder of the DFC and Two Bars, AFC and DFM, he rose to group captain and survived the war, dying on 6 December 2004 aged 92.