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Hamilton, John Henry (Pilot Officer)

Killed in Action 1944-May-24

Male Head

Birth Date: 1914 (age 30)

Son of Charles and Daisy Hamilton.

Home: Port Arthur, Ontario

Service
RCAF
Unit
422 Sqn- Squadron
This Arm Shall Do It
Rank
Pilot Officer
Marshal
Air Chief MarshalA/C/M
Air MarshalA/M
Air Vice MarshalA/V/M
Air CommodoreA/C
Group CaptainG/C
Wing CommanderW/C
Squadron LeaderS/L
Flight LieutenantF/L
Flying OfficerF/O
Pilot OfficerP/O
Warrant Officer 1st ClassWO1
Warrant Officer 2nd ClassWO2
Flight SergeantFS
SergeantSGT
CorporalCPL
Senior AircraftmanSAC
Leading AircraftmanLAC
Aircraftman 1st ClassAC1
Aircraftman 2nd ClassAC2
Position
Flight Engineer
Service Numbers
C/88579
Prev: R/51382

Sunderland Mk. III DV990

Reconnaissance 1944-May-24 to 1944-May-24

(GR) Sqn (RCAF) Castle Archdale

With No. 422 (GR) Squadron, RCAF, Sunderland DV 990 coded "R". on a daylight anti-sub patrol searching for U -476, near 63-34N 03-02E.which had been badly damaged in an air attack earlier in the day. The Sunderland was hit by flak during the attack run and and crashed into the sea after dropping three depth charges (no damage). .Warrant Officer K.M. Fleming, F/Os G.E. Holly, T.E. Frair, Flight Lieutenant E.W. Beattie, P/Os J.C.Seely, J.O. Burke, J.H. Hamilton, C. Senton, Sergeants P.D. Andrew (RAF), D.J. Harvey (RAF), Flying Officer G.B. Gingell (RAF), and FS L.W. Guggiari (RAF) were killed.d.

source: Malcolm Deeley, Ulster Aviation Society

Canada Source Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Canada Primary Source Library and Archives Canada Service Files (may not exist)

Pilot Officer John Henry Hamilton has no known grave.

Home
Google MapPort Arthur, Ontario

Google MapRunnymede Memorial Surrey
Panel 250

Sunderland DV990

Short Sunderland

Source: Harold A Skaarup Web Page (DND Photo)
Short Sunderland, coded Z, 15 Apr 1943

The Short S.25 Sunderland was a British flying boat patrol bomber, developed and constructed by Short Brothers for the Royal Air Force (RAF). The aircraft took its service name from the town (latterly, city) and port of Sunderland in North East England.

Developed in parallel with the civilian S.23 Empire flying boat, the flagship of Imperial Airways, the Sunderland was developed specifically to conform to the requirements of British Air Ministry Specification R.2/33 for a long-range patrol/reconnaissance flying boat to serve with the Royal Air Force (RAF). As designed, it served as a successor to the earlier Short Sarafand flying boat. Sharing several similarities with the S.23, it featured a more advanced aerodynamic hull and was outfitted with various offensive and defensive armaments, including machine gun turrets, bombs, aerial mines, and depth charges. The Sunderland was powered by four Bristol Pegasus XVIII radial engines and was outfitted with various detection equipment to aid combat operations, including the Leigh searchlight, the ASV Mark II and ASV Mark III radar units, and an astrodome.

The Sunderland was one of the most powerful and widely used flying boats throughout the Second World War. In addition to the RAF, the type was operated by other Allied military air wings, including the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF), South African Air Force (SAAF), Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF), French Navy, Norwegian Air Force, and the Portuguese Navy. During the conflict, the type was heavily involved in Allied efforts to counter the threat posed by German U-boats in the Battle of the Atlantic. Wikipedia

Wkikpedia Wikipedia Short Sunderland

General Harold A Skaarup Web Page

YouTube YouTube Short Sunderland (1940-1949)

last update: 2021-10-15 17:36:55

Sunderland Mk. III DV990

With No. 422 (GR) Squadron, RCAF, Sunderland DV 990 coded "R". was attacked while searching for U-476, near 63-34N 03-02E.which had been badly damaged in an air attack earlier in the day. The Sunderland was hit by flak during the attack run and and crashed into the sea after dropping three depth charges (no damage). The crew of 12 all died.

source: Malcolm Deeley, Ulster Aviation Society


422 Sqn This Arm Shall Do It ("Flying Yachtsmen")

History of the Squadron during World War II (Aircraft: Lerwick I, Catalina IB, III, VB, Sunderland III, Liberator VI, VIII)

No. 422 (General Reconnaissance) Squadron was the 19th RCAF squadron formed overseas in WWII. It was the 5th Coastal squadron, and was formed at Lough Erne, Fermanagh, Northern Ireland on April 2, 1942. It flew Consolidated Catalina and Short Sunderland flying boats on convoy support and anti-submarine patrols over the North Atlantic shipping routes. When hostilities ended in Europe, the squadron was re-designated a Transport (T) unit and was converting to Consolidated Liberator aircraft when hostilities terminated in the Far East. The squadron was then disbanded at Bassingbourn, Cambridgeshire, England on September 3, 1945.

In the course of its operations, the squadron flew 1116 operational sorties for the loss of 9 aircraft and 70 aircrew, of whom 11 were killed, 31 presumed dead, 6 injured and 22 rescued. The squadron is credited with 1 U-boat (U-625), sunk by the crew of Sunderland EK591 from St. Angelo. Ireland on 10 March 1940. The captain, WO2 W.F. Morton, was on his first operation. Awards to squadron members were 1 OBE, 1 MBE, 6 DFCs,1 BEM, 1 Air Medal (USA) and 22 MiD. Battle Honours were: Atlantic 1942-45, English Channel and North Sea 1944-45, Normandy 1944, Biscay 1944-45, Arctic 1942.

Maps for Movements of 422 Squadron 1942-45

MAP 1: 422 Squadron Movements 1942-45 (right-click on image to display enlarged in new tab)
MAP 2: 422 Squadron Movements 1942-45 (detail of Map 1)
MAP 3: Sinking of U-625

General Sinking of U-625

General 422 Squadron in the Battle of the Atlantic (RCAF Museum)

422 Squadron History Summary 1942-45

History of the Squadron Post-WWII (Aircraft: Sabre Mk. 2, 4, 5, 6, Starfighter, Huey, Kiowa)

The squadron was re-formed as a Fighter unit at Uplands (Ottawa), Ontario on 1 January 1953 with Canadair Sabre aircraft, and joined No. 4 (Fighter) Wing at Baden-Soellingen, Germany in August. Its nickname was changed to "Tomahawk". Selected as one of eight Sabre units in No. 1 Air Division Europe to be re-equipped with CF-104 Starfighter aircraft for a nuclear strike role, it was deactivated on 15 April 1963 and reactivated as Strike Attack on 15 July. On 1 February 1968 the squadron was integrated into the Canadian Armed Forces. The squadron was deactivated in July, 1970. The squadron was reactivated as 422 Tactical Helicopter Squadron in January 1971, and remained a helicopter squadron until it was finally disbanded in August 1980.

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