Hamilton Charles Upton

Survived 1965-August-01

Squadron Leader Hamilton Charles Upton RAF

Birth Date: 1912-March-13

Born:

Parents:

Spouse:

Home:

Enlistment:

Enlistment Date: unkown date

Service

RAF

Unit

43 (F) Sqn- Squadron (RAF)
Gloria Finis Glory the aim

Base

Rank

Squadron Leader

Position

Service Numbers

C/97015
Prev: 42544

The top Canadian scorer during the Battle was Flight Lieutenant H. C. Upton of No. 43 Squadron, RAF, who claimed 10.25 aircraft shot down.

Hamilton Charles Upton, also known by the name Deryk, was born in Manchester on 13th March 1912 but was brought up in Vancouver, Canada. He joined the RAF on a short service commission in June 1939 and after completing his training he joined 43 Squadron on 8th February 1940.

On 12th July Upton shared in destroying a He111 and on 8th August he claimed two Ju87s destroyed and probably another. Immediately after destroying the third Ju87, Upton's engine seized and he glided back to the Isle of Wight and made a forced-landing at Ford Farm, Whitwell. On 13th August Upton claimed a Do17 destroyed, on the 15th a Ju 88 and on the 16th three Ju87s. In this combat, his oil system was damaged by return fire and he made a crash-landing on Selsey Beach in Hurricane P3216. Upton claimed a Ju 87 and a Bf 109 destroyed on 18th August and a Bf 110 on 4th September.

He was posted to 607 Squadron at Tangmere on 24th September 1940 as a Flight Commander. In late 1940 Upton went to instruct at an OTU at Montrose. He later also instructed at 39 SFTS Swift Current, Saskatchewan, Canada.

He was awarded the DFC (gazetted 29th April 1941), receiving the medal from King George VI. After some time in hospital he returned to operational duties as a Fighter Controller with 84 Group, Tactical Air Force following the invasion of France.

Upton suffered from injuries sustained in his crash-landings and was subject to headaches and blackouts. It was later discovered that he also had a fractured coccyx. Surgeries to remove the infected tailbone caused lifelong health problems.

In 1945 Upton transferred to the RCAF, serving with it until 1953 and leaving with the Canadian Decoration. He began a career in radio with a new station, CFJB, in Brantford, Ontario. In 1955 Upton and his family moved to Truro, Nova Scotia where he worked as sales and advertising manager at CKCL for the rest of his life.

He died on 1st August 1965 of a brain aneurism, quite likely related to the head trauma he experienced during the Battle of Britain. Upton is buried in Robie Street Cemetery, Truro, Nova Scotia. (The Battle of Britain London Monument)

source: Harold A Skaarup

members of 43 Sqn RAF, Upton at right

grave marker for Squadron Leader Upton

Hurricane serial: P3216

Hawker Hurricane Mk IIc.
Source BBMF

The Hawker Hurricane is a single-seat fighter aircraft of the 1930s"“1940s that was designed and predominantly built by Hawker Aircraft Ltd. for service with the Royal Air Force (RAF). The Hurricane developed through several versions, as bomber-interceptors, fighter-bombers, and ground support aircraft in addition to fighters. Versions designed for the Navy were popularly known as the Sea Hurricane, with modifications enabling their operation from ships. Some were converted to be used as catapult-launched convoy escorts. By the end of production in July 1944, 14,487 Hurricanes had been completed in Britain and Canada.

A major manufacturer of the Hurricane was Canadian Car and Foundry at their factory in Fort William (now Thunder Bay), Ontario. The facility's chief engineer, Elsie MacGill, became known as the "Queen of the Hurricanes". The initiative was commercially led rather than governmentally, but was endorsed by the British government; Hawker, having recognized that a major conflict was all but inevitable after the Munich Crisis of 1938, drew up preliminary plans to expand Hurricane production via a new factory in Canada. Under this plan, samples, pattern aircraft, and a complete set of design documents stored on microfilm, were shipped to Canada; the RCAF ordered 20 Hurricanes to equip one fighter squadron and two more were supplied to Canadian Car and Foundry as pattern aircraft but one probably did not arrive. The first Hurricane built at Canadian Car and Foundry was officially produced in February 1940. As a result, Canadian-built Hurricanes were shipped to Britain to participate in events such as the Battle of Britain. Canadian Car and Foundry (CCF) was responsible for the production of 1,451 Hurricanes.

Sea Hurricane

While the Sea Hurricane never served in the Royal Canadian Navy, it was, ironically, operated by the Royal Canadian Air Force. In late 1941, the RCAF found itself without any frontline fighters, having sent its earlier Hawker Hurricanes off to the UK along with 1 (Fighter) Squadron, RCAF, and was having a hard time procuring additional fighters to meet its needs.

For reasons that are still slightly unclear, the RCAF received 50 Sea Hurricanes in 1942. It is assumed that these aircraft, built in Thunder Bay, Ontario by Canadian Car and Foundry, were to be used as part of the Fleet Air Arm (FAA) Merchant Ship Fighting Unit (MSFU) based in Canada, but were diverted to the RCAF. These Sea Hurricanes were basically a Hurricane Mk. I with a tail-hook, catapult spools, a short blunt de Havilland spinner, and an eight gun wing. Wikipedia and Harold A Skaarup Web Page

Folding Wings

The idea of adding folding wings to the Sea Hurricane was examined in 1940 but ultimately abandoned due to concerns about the aircraft's ability to accommodate the extra weight and the urgent need for next-generation aircraft. The Sea Hurricane was primarily designed as a stopgap measure for naval operations, which limited the resources available for such modifications.

Examination of the Concept

Weight Concerns: There were significant worries about the Sea Hurricane's ability to handle the additional weight that folding wings would introduce.
Resource Limitations: The Sea Hurricane was intended as a stopgap solution for naval operations, which meant that resources for further modifications were limited.

The Sea Hurricane was adapted from the original Hurricane design to meet the needs of naval aviation. Key modifications included:

Strengthened Airframe: To withstand the rigors of carrier operations.
Arrestor Hook: Essential for landing on aircraft carriers.
Naval Equipment: Ensured functionality in maritime conditions.

While the folding wing concept was explored, the pressing demands of the war and the need for more advanced aircraft led to its dismissal. The Sea Hurricane continued to serve effectively in its modified form without the folding wings.

YouTube Hurricane