Colonel William O. Carter, Jr.
348th Fighter Group (348th FG), 340th Fighter Squadron/460th Fighter Squadron
P-47D Thunderbolt Pilot

Background
William Otto Carter, Jr. was born October 30, 1916 to parents William Otto Carter Sr. and Leona Uvalda Collins Carter in Sweetwater, Texas. He graduated Sweetwater High School class of 1934. He attended John Tarleton Junior College and a year of study at Texas A&M before enlisting in the military.

Wartime History
On January 24, 1942 enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as an aviation cadet with serial number 18074646. He trained at Parks Air College, St. Louis, MO; Randolph Field, San Antonio, TX. On October 9, 1942 earned his wings and was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant at Foster Field, in Victoria, TX. Next, he underwent combat training at Westover Field, MA, then sent overseas assignment to the South West Pacific Area (SWPA).

Assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th AF), 348th Fighter Group (348th FG), 340th Fighter Squadron (340th FS) "Minutemen" as a fighter pilot. His first assigned plane was P-47D "Carter's Li'l Pill" 42-8066 that he flew during July 1943–September 1943.

On the March 4, 1944 when Col. Neel E. Kearby was shot down, Carter was scheduled to fly with him the next week. Among his highlights are meeting and flying with Charles A. Lindberg for a week long training session in New Guinea. On November 29, 1944 he claimed a Japanese destroyer and a transport. In total, Carter, Jr, flew 190 combat missions and 500 hours.

Between 1943-1945, Carter was assigned at least four P-47 Thunderbolt fighter aircraft. His planes had two nicknames: "Carter's Li'l Pill" named after the popular regularity medicine named Carter's Little Liver Pills. His other two aircraft were named "Sweetwater Swatter" a tribute to his hometown Sweetwater, Texas.

P-47D "Carter's Li'l Pill" 42-8066  piloted by Carter July 1943–September 1943
P-47D "Carter's Li'l Pill"   piloted by Carter circa early 1944 operated at Saidor
P-47D "Amaranthus! / Sweetwater Swatter"   piloted by Carter middle 1944
P-47D "Sweetwater Swatter!"   piloted by Carter late 1944-1945

Other aircraft known to have been flown by Carter:
P-47D 42-25419  piloted by Carter from Townsville to Port Moresby
P-47D 43-25643  assigned to Carter during late 1944–1945

When the 460th Fighter Squadron (460th FS) "The Black Ram" was established, both Carter and Dunham formed the unit. Carter was asked to become the Commanding Officer (C.O.), but he declined.

Awards
Carter earned Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal with four oak leaf clusters.

Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) citation:
"Captain WILLIAM O. CARTER, JR., (0665522), Air Corps, United States Army. For extraordinary achievement while participating in an aerial flight off Duljugan Point, Leyte, Phillipplne Islands, on 29 November 1944. Captain Carter was a f1ight leader in a formation of 16 p-47 aircraft which attacked a Japanese convoy consisting of :2 large transports and a destroyer escort. Leading his 4-plane flight in a low-lever attack, through light and medium anti~aircraft fire, he strafed one of the transports and dropped a bomb directly on its stern. An explosion shook the vessel and, having also been hit by another member of his flight, it began to sink , Then, accompanied by a wingman, Captain Carter made a minimum-altitude attack on the destroyer escort, which continued to throw up a barrage of anti-aircraft fire. He and his wingman scored direct hits on the warship, setting it on fire. The vessel lost speed, stopped, and began sinking at the stern. The outstanding courage and devotion to duty displayed by Captain Carter during this flight are in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Army Air Forces."

Relatives
William Otto Carter, III (son of William Otto Carter, Jr.)
"My father had five different planes during his wartime service. [This] plane crashed before dad had a chance to have the nose painted. His two planes were named "Carter's Lil' Pill", named after a popular "regularity" medicine which was popular back then."

References
NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - William O. Carter, Jr.
Wings, W.A.S.P. and Warriors "The Otto Carter Story"
Abilene News "Internet holds big surprise for retired Air Force colonel" March 12, 2000
OttoCarter.com - Letters Home 1943 - 1944 - 1945 William Otto Carter, Jr.
Thanks to William Otto Carter, III (son) for additional information