William Keir Carr facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
William Keir Carr
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| Born | March 19, 1923 Grand Bank, Dominion of Newfoundland (now Newfoundland, Canada) |
| Died | October 14, 2020 (aged 97) Ottawa, Ontario, Canada |
| Allegiance |  Newfoundland Canada |
| Service/ |
Air Command |
| Years of service | 1941–1978 |
| Rank | Lt General |
| Commands held | Air Command |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
| Awards | Commander of the Order of Military Merit Distinguished Flying Cross Officer of the Venerable Order of Saint John Canadian Forces Decoration |
Lieutenant General William Keir "Bill" Carr (March 19, 1923 – October 14, 2020) was a brave Canadian Air Force officer. He is often called the "father of the modern Canadian Air Force" because he was the very first commander of Air Command. This was a big job where he helped shape the air force we know today.
Early Life and Education
William "Bill" Carr grew up in Newfoundland. He was one of six children in his family. When he was 18, he went to Mount Allison University. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree there. To help pay for his studies, he sold typewriters. While at university, he also joined the Canadian Officer Training Corps. This program helps train future military officers.
Flying in World War II
Bill Carr joined the military in 1941, during World War II. He was sent overseas and trained to fly the Spitfire plane. This was a famous British fighter aircraft. He learned how to take photos from the air for important missions.
Later, he joined No. 542 Squadron and flew the Spitfire PR Mk XI. He even flew one of these planes all the way to Malta when he moved to No. 683 Squadron. During one mission over Perugia, Italy, his Spitfire briefly went out of control. He had a minor injury but was okay. He also had an early encounter with one of the first Me 262 jets. This happened during a mission near Munich. In 1944, he was given the Distinguished Flying Cross for his bravery and skill.
After the War
After World War II ended, Bill Carr continued to serve in the military. He quickly moved up in rank. In 1973, he became the Deputy Chief of the Defence Staff. He worked hard to bring the different parts of the air force back together.
In 1975, he became the first Commander of Air Command. This was a very important role. He retired from the Canadian Forces in 1978. After leaving the military, Carr worked for Canadair. He became the Vice-President of International Marketing. He helped sell the Canadair Challenger aircraft around the world. Later, he did similar work for Bombardier Aerospace.
Bill Carr passed away in October 2020 when he was 97 years old.
Awards and Honours
- Distinguished Flying Cross (1944)
- Venerable Order of Saint John
- Commander of the Order of Military Merit
- Legion of Merit
- Canada's Aviation Hall of Fame
See also
In Spanish: William Keir Carr para niños
