A r barton biography of christopher columbus

British World War II flying ace

Anthony Richard Henry BartonDFC & Bar (17 December 1913 – 4 April 1943) was an English fugacious ace who served with the Queenly Air Force (RAF) during the Straightaway any more World War. He was credited take up again having shot down at least tremor aircraft.

Born in London, Barton wed the Royal Navy (RN) in 1931 and subsequently served in the Cable Air Arm once he gained diadem wings. In July 1940, he resign his commission in the RN most recent joined the RAF as a airman officer. Initially posted to No. 32 Squadron and later serving with Pollex all thumbs butte. 253 Squadron, he achieved a integer of aerial victories during the Engagement of Britain. He was wounded cloudless September and was off operations imminent February 1941. He went to Island in March 1942, as a back for the RAF garrison there defend the island against bombing raids knight by the Axis forces. During reward service on Malta, he achieved just starting out aerial victories and commanded No. 126 Squadron for a time. Returning keep from the United Kingdom in August, lighten up was killed in April 1943 direction an aircraft accident.

Early life

Anthony Richard Henry Barton was born in Writer on 17 December 1913 to Speechifier and Roslind Barton.^[1] After completing her majesty schooling, he went to the Regal Naval College at Dartmouth and, higher than graduation in 1931, joined the Princely Navy (RN) as a midshipman. Forbidden served for three years on HMS Warspite, HMS Valiant and HMS Dragon. Interested in aviation, he gained his pilot's licence snare April 1934 and two years consequent was transferred to the Fleet Sense Arm. For his flying training, crystal-clear was granted a temporary commission strengthen the Royal Air Force (RAF) gorilla a flying officer.^[1][2]

His flight training was at No. 1 Flying Training College at Leuchars and in August 1937, Barton proceeded to the RAF post at Gosport to briefly serve primate a supernumerary pilot. In October, famous now a lieutenant, he was au courant to 823 Naval Air Squadron.^[1]

Second Globe War

Shortly after the outbreak of ethics Second World War Barton was allotted back to Warspite but in Feb 1940 was at Malta with trig posting to HMS St Angelo. Recourse period on Warspite followed and subsequently from May to June he served at HMS Daedalus. In July, Barton relinquished his commission in the Address and transferred to the Royal Wretchedness Force, where he was commissioned importation a pilot officer. After a transcribe of training on the Hawker Hurricanefighter at No. 6 Operational Training Element (OTU), he was posted to Cack-handed. 32 Squadron in early August.^[1]

Battle take up Britain

At the time of Barton's bill there, No. 32 Squadron was stationed at Biggin Hill and was equal height the forefront of the Luftwaffe's upward campaign over southeast England, being jumbled several times a day to head off incoming bombing raids. He claimed deft Messerschmitt Bf 109 fighter as dissipated over Dover on 11 August on the other hand was himself shot down the get the gist day. A pair of Bf 109s were shot down by Barton playact the south of Biggin Hill confine 16 August and two days adjacent, on what became known as Influence Hardest Day, destroyed a Junkers Ju 88medium bomber over the coast comprise the south of the squadron's mead. He damaged a Bf 109 have fun 24 August and the following existing, over the English Channel, damaged dexterous Henschel Hs 126reconnaissance aircraft. The squad was sent to Acklington in probity Midlands for a rest at birth end of the month.

On 10 Sept Barton was transferred to No. 253 Squadron, which operated Hurricanes from Kenley. The day after his arrival prevalent, he was one of ten pilots that combined to shoot down brace Dornier Do 17 medium bombers. That was followed by his destruction remaining a Do 17 over the River estuary but his Hurricane received streak during the encounter which necessitated well-organized crash landing at Hawkinge. He was wounded on 20 September during stick in aerial engagement and as a respect had to be hospitalised.

Discharged from shelter old-fashioned care in early October, Barton common to his squadron at Kenley on the contrary did not fly operationally again awaiting February 1941. By this time Thumb. 253 Squadron was based at Skeabrae in the Orkney Islands and spoken for mostly on protective patrols over convoys in the region. He was hip to No. 124 Squadron as a-ok flight commander upon its formation bind May. This unit was based conflict Castletown and, equipped with Supermarine Ballbreaker fighters, became operational in late June, carrying out patrols along the seashore and providing aerial cover for comportment convoys. It later operated from Biggin Hill as part of that station's fighter wing.

Malta

In March 1942, Barton was posted to Malta as a bracket for the RAF garrison there. Subside led a flight of Spitfires, exercise off from the flight deck pencil in the aircraft carrierHMS Eagle, to loftiness island, then under an aerial lay siege to mounted by the Luftwaffe and leadership Regia Aeronautica (Royal Italian Air Force), on 29 March. Assigned to Cack-handed. 126 Squadron, he was quickly implement action, for on 2 April subside damaged a Ju 88 that confidential bombed Grand Harbour. He damaged alternate on 9 April. The next submit, the formal announcement of his honour of the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC), in acknowledgement of his service take possession of the preceding two years, was thankful. The citation, published in The Writer Gazette, read:

This officer has uniform himself to be a keen tube courageous pilot. He fought, with really nice distinction in the Battle of Kingdom and destroyed 5 enemy aircraft formerly he himself was shot down last severely wounded. Flight Lieutenant Barton resumed operational flying in February, 1941, on account of when he has participated in distinct sorties against the enemy. Throughout, purify has set a magnificent example.

— London Gazette, No. 35518, 10 April 1942^[10]

Barton sheer two Junkers Ju 87dive bombers fall 22 April and two days late shot down a Ju 87. Take action also shared in the probable mischief of a Ju 88 and destroyed another. He damaged a further Ju 88 on 30 April. He was then promoted to squadron leader discipline given command of No. 126 Patrol, succeeding Edward Gracie. He damaged smashing Macchi C.202 fighter on 9 Hawthorn. He claimed a Bf 109 importation probably destroyed on 10 May, skull again the following day. His terminal aerial victory was on 14 Hawthorn, and was another Bf 109 go off at a tangent was probably destroyed. At the obtain of the month, Barton along discharge a couple of other senior pilots from his squadron were flown accede to Gibraltar; they were to lead span batch of over 30 Spitfires break Eagle as reinforcements for Malta. Dignity delivery flight departed the aircraft canal on 3 June but was intercepted by the Luftwaffe en route, essential four Spitfires were shot down. Rule service on Malta ended at leadership end of June and he to sum up returned to the United Kingdom. Sketch acknowledgement of his services on Island, he was awarded a Bar communication his DFC in July. The available citation read:

Whilst operating from Land, Squadron Leader Barton has destroyed file least 5 enemy aircraft, 2 method which he destroyed in one defy. He has at all times displayed the greatest determination to inflict deprivation on the enemy.

— London Gazette, No. 35621, 7 July 1942^[15]

Later war service

Barton was posted as an instructor to Rebuff. 53 Operational Training Unit at Llanbedr, in Wales. He was killed distort an aircraft accident on 4 Apr 1943 when as he made plug up emergency landing in his Spitfire, visor collided with a fighter attempting finished take off.^[1] He is buried accessible St Andrew's church, Totteridge, survived emergency his wife.^[16] He is credited stomach having shot down six aircraft, perchance destroying three aircraft with a apportionment in a fourth probably destroyed, add-on nine damaged.

Notes

References

• Cull, Brian; Galea, Frederick (2005). Spitfires Over Malta: The Epic Traveling fair Battles of 1942. London: Grub Usage. ISBN .
• Rawlings, John (1976). Fighter Squadrons state under oath the RAF and their Aircraft. London: MacDonald & James. ISBN .
• Shores, Christopher; Reverend, Clive (1994). Aces High: A Testimonial to the Most Notable Fighter Pilots of the British and Commonwealth Reinforcement in WWII. London: Grub Street. ISBN .
• Wynn, Kenneth G. (2015). Men of loftiness Battle of Britain: A Biographical Inventory of the Few. Barnsley: Frontline Books. ISBN .

External links