Serial Number: NZ439122
RNZAF Trade: Pilot
Date of Enlistment: 18th of June 1943
Date of Demob:
Rank Achieved:
Flying Hours:
Operational Sorties:

Date of Birth: 20th of March 1925, at Stratford
Personal Details:Bruce was the son of Mrs F. Cleland of Roto-o-Rangi. He was educated at Te Awamutu High School. Bruce Joined the Te Awamutu Air Training Corps as a pupil at the school, and he was the first from the ATC unit to be posted overseas. He married a Canadian girl.

Bruce spent his final leave with his mother in Roto-o-Rangi and was farewelled from Kio Kio Hall in Otorohanga – exactly a year to the day that his elder brother received his farewell from the same place. Bruce was presented with a bound writing set from his friends at Kio Kio and a hold all from the Otorohanga Patriotic committee.

Service Details: After his initial training at RNZAF Station Omaka, in New Zealand, Bruce trained as a pilot at No. 3 Elementary Flying Training School, RNZAF Ashburton. He then embarked overseas and served at No. 1 Service Flying Training School, Camp Borden, Ontario, Canada to complete his flying training.

At Camp Borden Bruce met airman Len Gerrand, who would later move to Cambridge, and the two pilots graduated together. Following their graduation they boarded the troopship Torrens on the 21st of March 1944 back to New Zealand.

Further service details are as yet unknown, but he returned to New Zealand in March 1945

Today: Bruce lives in Carleton Place, Ontario, Canada

Connection with Cambridge: Bruce lived at Roto-o-Rangi, which is in the Cambridge district, despite having seemingly been more involved with the Te Awamutu community. After the war Bruce returned to Cambridge but he emigrated to Canada in 1949 where he still lives

Newspaper Articles Relating to Bruce Carter:
Boy Overseas Guest of Honour 20 March 1944
Returned Home 23 March 1945
Welcome Home Dance 2 May 1945

_________________________________________________________________________________