Danish WW2 Pilots

Sec. Off. Asta Birgitte Carter (née Jensen)

(1916 - n.a. )

Profile

Asta Birgitte Carter was one of the Danish women who served in the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force during the Second World War. She had gone to England in 1938.

Asta Birgitte Carter (née Jensen) was born on 16 Juni 1916 in Langaa, the daughter of Jens Jensen and Hansine Elise (née Jensen.[1] She was the cousin of Helga Søndergaard Jensen, who also served in the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force during the war.

Carter and her cousin, Helga, had travelled to Britain in 1938 to better their English. They had not intended on staying in Britain, but were unable to return to Denmark because of the outbreak of war.

When the Duchess of Kent was the guest of honour at a function at the Danish Legation on 3 March 1943, five Danish volunteers were presented to her. Section Officer Carter was the representative from the WAAF (Museum of Danish Resistance).
When the Duchess of Kent was the guest of honour at a function at the Danish Legation on 3 March 1943, five Danish volunteers were presented to her. Section Officer Carter was the representative from the WAAF (Museum of Danish Resistance).

Carter volunteered for the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force in 1941 (2002399). She received an emergency commission as Assistant Section Officer (5217) on 8 July 1942.[2] Six months later, she was promoted to Section Officer, the equivalent of Flying Officer in the RAF.[3] She resigned her commission on 15 August 1943.[4]

Carter had married Capt. D. J. Carter (190667) in 1941, thereby becoming a British subject. He was killed in France shortly after the D-Day landings.[5]

Endnotes

[1] DNA: Parish register, Haverslev Sogn.

[2] London Gazette, issue 35646, p. 3309, 24 July 1942, https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/35646/supplement/3309.

[3] London Gazette, issue 35946, p. 1315, 16 March 1943, https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/35946/supplement/1315.

[4] London Gazette, issue 36135, p. 3688, 13 August 1943, https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/36135/supplement/3688.

[5] Commonwealth War Graves, https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/2929982/.