The Airmen's Stories - P/O K M Carver

Kenneth Maltby Carver was born in Capel, Surrey on 29th April 1918 and joined the RAFVR about September 1938 as an Airman u/t Pilot. He was in Leicester at the time studying architecture.

Called up on 1st September 1939, he completed his training, was commissioned in May 1940 and arrived at 5 OTU on 27th May.

In June 1940 he married Joyce Boland, a teacher at Fosse High School, at the Church of the Martyrs, Leicester (below).

He joined 29 Squadron on 16th June. He was posted to 229 Squadron on 18th July after a short attachment at 6 OTU to convert to Hurricanes.

Above: Carver with his Hurricane at 229 Squadron.

Above image courtesy of the family of F/Lt. JB Holderness.

In an engagement with He111s over Maidstone on 11th September Carver's Hurricane N2466 was set alight. He baled out and landed near Flimwell. He spent four four weeks at Rumwood Court Hospital, near Maidstone and then moved to the RAF Hospital Wendover. His Hurricane crashed at Spelmonden, Goudhurst Road, Horsmonden.

Carver rejoined 229 and was serving with the squadron in 1941. He was serving with 605 Squadron in 1944 and was awarded the DFC (gazetted 21st November 1944).

He was released from the RAF in 1946 as a Squadron Leader and died in April 1996 in Norwich.