Norman L. Carter was born on August 1, 1917, in Adair, Oklahoma. He was the son of Agile John Carter and Neva Verneal Goin Carter. He was married to Velma Kathryn Morris Labertew.

Norman served in the 863rd Bomber Squadron, 493rd Bomber Group, Heavy, as a Staff Sergeant and Ball Turret Gunner on the B-17 43-38295 during World War II. He was Killed in Action on September 12, 1944, when his airplane was shot down by an enemy aircraft and crashed at Aderstedt, north of Halberstadt, Germany. As a result of the crash, 4 of the crew members were killed while five members were taken as prisoners

SSgt Carter is now buried in the Netherlands American Cemetery, Margraten, Netherlands.

B-17 #43-38295 crew:
Pilot: Charles Spencer (KIA)
Co-pilot: Dawson Watters (KIA)
Ball turret gunner: Norman Carter (KIA)
Tail gunner: Vernon Van Dinter (KIA)
Navigator: Harold Leibowitz (POW)
Bombardier: Samuel Cale (POW)
Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Eugene Pax (POW)
Radio Operator: Robert Bodwell (POW)
Waist gunner: Buford Balay

Source of information: www.findagrave.com, www.americanairmuseum.com, www.abmc.gov