The Airmen's Stories - Sgt. C B Hamilton

Charles Blackley Hamilton of Girvan, Ayrshire was born in 1921, the son of James and Sarah Hamilton.

He was educated at Girvan High School and after leaving he was employed at Trochrague Gardens.

Hamilton joined the RAF about June 1940 as an Aircrafthand.

He volunteered for aircrew duties and probably went on a short radar course at Yatesbury. In early September 1940 Hamilton joined 219 Squadron at Catterick as a Radar Operator.

Above: Airmen of 219 Squadron.

Standing rear: Sgt. CB Hamilton, AC1 DO Hendry, AC2 JP McCaul

Standing left: Sgt. GM Leslie

Kneeling: Sgt. L Smith, Sgt. T Le Dong

In October 1943 Hamilton was serving as Warrant Officer with 85 Squadron at West Malling. In the late evening of the 15th he was flying with F/O HB Thomas when they shot down a Ju188, which crashed at St Nicholas-at-Wade, Kent.

Commissioned in February 1944, Hamilton was awarded the DFC (gazetted 26th September 1944). He had then assisted in the destruction of four enemy aircraft.

Hamilton was still with 85 Squadron when he was killed on 13th April 1945. Mosquito NFXXX NT494 took off from Swannington but in the early hours of the 14th was shot down by a night-fighter off the north coast of Germany. The details are still unclear but it seems that the pilot, now F/Lt. HB Thomas, survived wounded but evaded capture until liberated in Kiel while Hamilton was killed, aged 23.

Hamilton's body was recovered and he is buried in Hamburg Cemetery, Ohlsdorf, Germany.

Above image courtesy of Dark Poet.