424:
492:
1075:
561:
south of
Lampedusa. His final aerial victory was on 22 November, when he destroyed a Macchi C.202 Folgore to the north east of Gozo. Early the following month, he relinquished command of No. 249 Squadron and returned to England for a rest. By this time, his performance while serving at Malta had been
552:
fighter over Malta. However, the worn out fighters that the squadron was operating were of concern, and pilots experienced a number of engine failures; on 1 August, one such failure occurred to Barton as he was taking off and he had to crash land. In doing so, his aircraft caught fire and he received
261:, achieving more aerial victories. He served in a series of staff and command posts for the remainder of the war. He remained in the RAF in the postwar period, and played a role in the establishment of the Pakistani Air Force. He ended his military career in 1959 and died in September 2010, aged 94.
443:
This officer has displayed outstanding leadership and has contributed materially to the many successes obtained by his squadron. His skill was particularly displayed on the 28th
September when his squadron was responsible for destroying twenty enemy aircraft. Flight Lieutenant Barton has personally
33:
656:, in the United States. Barton died at Kamploops on 2 September 2010. He was survived by a son, his wife having predeceased him by several years. His remains were cremated and on 15 September, the anniversary of Battle of Britain Day, the ashes were scattered in a lake.
1435:
475:
on a search and rescue mission. The squadron carried out convoy patrols until the start of 1941, when it switched to offensive operations to France. By this time, Barton was its commander, having been promoted to acting squadron leader.
614:. He finished the war solely credited with twelve enemy aircraft destroyed, and another five that were shared with other pilots. He also credited with two aircraft probably destroyed, and nine damaged, four of the latter shared.
556:
After a period of hospital treatment, Barton returned to operations and on 4 September probably destroyed a MC.200 and damaged a second near Cap
Passero, and on 19 October, he and another pilot combined to shoot down a
957:
1440:
459:
The
Luftwaffe had briefly escalated its activities over the final stages of October and a week after being awarded the DFC, Barton destroyed a Bf 109 and damaged two others over
1066:
1430:
517:. On 21 May, with the aircraft carrier about 450 miles (720 km) from Malta, Barton led the squadron's pilots in flying their Hurricanes off the flight deck and onto
652:, who he had married in 1939, settled back in British Columbia in 1965. His wife suffered poor health, and in their later years, they spent part of each year in
436:
254:
211:
183:
1420:
607:
204:
179:
634:. Later returning to the United Kingdom, Barton served in a series of command and staff roles, including one period as commander of the RAF station at
525:, part of Malta's aerial defence. As part of this, they had to swap their new Hurricanes for those of No. 261 Squadron, which were nearly worn out.
420:, he shot down one Do 17 and damaged another. Three days later, he damaged a He 111 over the Thames Estuary. He shot down a Bf 110 on 27 September.
626:, serving at the headquarters of the Air Staff there. He received a permanent commission in the RAF, with effect from 1 July 1946. Following the
521:. It had been planned that they would be refueled and then fly onto Egypt but when the squadron arrived, they were informed they were to relieve
1374:
1000:
528:
No. 249 Squadron became operational on the island on 25 May, Barton leading the first, uneventful, sortie of the day from their base at
558:
1057:
1038:
1019:
1379:
537:
298:
532:. By this time, the Luftwaffe had reduced its presence in the region, having been transferred to eastern Europe to support the
293:. He proceeded to England to commence his flight training in January 1936. Nicknamed 'Butch', he was commissioned as an acting
423:
1425:
1224:
258:
167:
1173:
277:, Canada, on 7 June 1916. While his father, an engineer, was Canadian, his mother was Scottish. The family lived in
1410:
1306:
1216:
575:
309:
and early the following year was confirmed in his rank as pilot officer. At the time, the squadron was based at
1133:
574:
The remainder of Barton's war service was primarily in instructing and staff duties. He initially served in an
499:
In May, No. 249 Squadron was dispatched to the Middle East, departing from
England aboard the aircraft carrier
282:
595:
355:
the following month and immediately becoming engaged in the aerial fighting over the southeast of
England.
491:
472:
416:
medium bombers; he was credited with shares in damaging four of these. On 15 September, what later became
1346:
1314:
1165:
611:
417:
290:
191:
1031:
Aces High: A Tribute to the Most
Notable Fighter Pilots of the British and Commonwealth Forces in WWII
1405:
1400:
1114:
533:
522:
375:
364:
340:
324:
239:
130:
631:
603:
549:
306:
235:
938:
920:
536:. This left the Italians to continue the aerial offensive on Malta. On 3 June, Barton shot down a
627:
545:
507:
463:, from where No. 249 Squadron had been based since September. He probably destroyed a Bf 109 off
544:, one of the islands of the Malta group. Four days later, while flying at night, he destroyed a
1053:
1034:
1015:
996:
405:
352:
250:
157:
32:
1415:
1157:
884:
830:
795:
500:
348:
320:
274:
246:
243:
231:
162:
152:
67:
1208:
1141:
1095:
902:
583:
460:
435:
began to slow down its operational tempo in
October. On 22 October, Barton's award of the
286:
234:, Barton joined the RAF in early 1936. After his training was completed, he was posted to
220:
138:
102:
1338:
1200:
1181:
635:
599:
591:
483:
lightship. These were his final aerial victories flying from a RAF station in
England.
450:
413:
394:
344:
336:
142:
120:
223:(RAF) during the Second World War. He was credited with at least 12 aerial victories.
1394:
1330:
1286:
1272:
623:
594:
north of
Scotland, and at North Weald. During his service at the latter post, he was
480:
468:
408:
at the start of the following month, and on 11 September, while flying south east of
393:
on 2 September. He was shot down himself the next day, during an engagement over the
386:
383:
379:
371:
367:
310:
294:
253:, claiming several aerial victories. Near the end of the battle, he was awarded the
1238:
639:
587:
302:
134:
427:
A Hawker Hurricane of No. 249 Squadron being rearmed at North Weald, February 1941
374:. He also damaged a second Bf 110 in the same area. On 24 August he destroyed two
1322:
1149:
579:
529:
314:
219:(7 June 1916 â 2 September 2010) was a Canadian-born officer who served in the
1080:
647:
479:
On 4 February, Barton shot down a Bf 110 and damaged a second, both near the
717:
563:
514:
432:
398:
382:, one of which shared with another pilot. He shared in the destruction of a
278:
215:
187:
431:
No. 249 Squadron had been intensively engaged in the air battles but the
390:
270:
227:
63:
582:, and was subsequently appointed to a staff role at the headquarters of
653:
464:
317:
1436:
Canadian recipients of the Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)
444:
destroyed four enemy aircraft and shared in the destruction of others.
238:
but following the outbreak of the Second World War was transferred to
1074:
409:
693:
691:
689:
412:, he was one of several pilots that engaged and damaged a number of
687:
685:
683:
681:
679:
677:
675:
673:
671:
669:
642:
in London, from where, in February 1959, he retired from the RAF.
518:
490:
422:
335:
By the time of the outbreak of the Second World War, Barton was a
297:
in March and after his initial training was completed, went on to
541:
1070:
598:
on 1 January 1945. When the war ended in Europe, Barton was a
813:
811:
809:
363:
On 15 August, Barton achieved his first aerial victory, a
471:
medium bomber although it may have been a misidentified
566:
to his DFC, the announcement being made on 31 October.
339:. In May 1940, he was transferred to the newly formed
1441:
Canadian Officers of the Order of the British Empire
754:
752:
750:
748:
746:
744:
742:
740:
738:
467:
on 7 November and then four days later, shot down a
1193:
1126:
1107:
1088:
602:and serving in a staff role at the headquarters of
351:fighters and became operational in July, moving to
175:
148:
126:
116:
108:
96:
88:
74:
50:
42:
23:
630:in August 1947, he helped in the formation of the
993:Fortress Malta: An Island Under Siege, 1940â1943
323:but in January 1939, it began to convert to the
1012:Fighter Squadrons of the RAF and their Aircraft
958:"CAN/RAF: The Canadians in the Royal Air Force"
441:
697:
506:. Its personnel and aircraft were switched to
1029:Shores, Christopher; Williams, Clive (1994).
8:
439:was announced. The published citation read:
1067:
608:Officer of the Order of the British Empire
606:. Shortly afterwards, he was appointed an
289:(RAF) and was accepted on a short service
180:Officer of the Order of the British Empire
31:
20:
1431:Royal Air Force personnel of World War II
927:(Supplement). 14 June 1945. p. 2948.
718:"The Airmen's Stories - F/Lt. R A Barton"
548:. On both 17 and 25 July, he shot down a
945:(Supplement). 20 May 1947. p. 2239.
817:
782:
770:
586:. He then commanded the RAF stations at
871:
859:
847:
712:
710:
708:
706:
665:
257:. He later flew Hurricanes during the
1375:List of World War II aces from Canada
646:
495:A Hurricane at Te Kali on Malta, 1941
7:
962:The Royal Canadian Air Force Journal
758:
538:Savoia-Marchetti SM.79 medium bomber
269:Robert Alexander Barton was born in
638:. His final appointment was to the
622:In August 1945, Barton was sent to
281:, although Barton was educated at
84:Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada
14:
1421:Canadian World War II flying aces
1014:. London: MacDonald & James.
802:. 12 November 1940. p. 6493.
722:Battle of Britain London Monument
285:. In 1935 he applied to join the
249:, he flew extensively during the
1380:List of World War II flying aces
1073:
891:. 31 October 1941. p. 6314.
837:. 22 October 1940. p. 6134.
305:. In October, he was posted to
956:Halliday, Hugh (Spring 2015).
562:recognised with an award of a
1:
909:. 1 January 1945. p. 62.
559:Savoia-Marchetti SM.81 bomber
454:, No. 34976, 22 October 1940.
1050:Men of the Battle of Britain
299:No. 9 Flying Training School
16:Canadian flying ace of WWII
1457:
1052:. Norwich: Gliddon Books.
698:Shores & Williams 1994
437:Distinguished Flying Cross
370:, which he shot down over
255:Distinguished Flying Cross
184:Distinguished Flying Cross
1370:
1083:with 10+ aerial victories
1048:Wynn, Kenneth G. (1989).
645:Barton and his wife Gwen
576:Operational Training Unit
534:German invasion of Russia
30:
1033:. London: Grub Street.
1010:Rawlings, John (1976).
991:Holland, James (2003).
612:King's Birthday Honours
596:mentioned in despatches
404:Barton was promoted to
200:Robert Alexander Barton
1079:Canadian World War II
496:
457:
428:
553:second degree burns.
494:
426:
418:Battle of Britain Day
192:Mention in despatches
109:Years of service
1426:People from Kamloops
376:Messerschmitt Bf 109
365:Messerschmitt Bf 110
325:Supermarine Spitfire
1342:(10 & 1 shared)
1334:(10 & 1 shared)
1326:(10 & 1 shared)
1318:(10 & 5 shared)
1310:(10 & 8 shared)
1268:(12 & 5 shared)
1228:(13 & 1 shared)
1204:(14 & 1 shared)
1177:(15 & 1 shared)
1169:(15 & 3 shared)
1161:(15 & 4 shared)
1153:(16 & 1 shared)
1145:(17 & 2 shared)
1137:(18 & 4 shared)
1099:(31 & 1 shared)
874:, pp. 174â175.
862:, pp. 149â151.
850:, pp. 138â141.
820:, pp. 353â354.
773:, pp. 107â111.
700:, pp. 116â117.
632:Pakistani Air Force
943:The London Gazette
925:The London Gazette
907:The London Gazette
889:The London Gazette
835:The London Gazette
800:The London Gazette
628:Partition of India
497:
429:
378:fighters near the
1411:Canadian aviators
1388:
1387:
1363:
1357:
1351:
1343:
1335:
1327:
1319:
1311:
1303:
1297:
1291:
1283:
1280:Donald MacFayden
1277:
1269:
1261:
1255:
1249:
1243:
1235:
1229:
1221:
1213:
1205:
1186:
1178:
1170:
1162:
1154:
1146:
1138:
1119:
1100:
1002:978-0-75285-288-1
995:. London: Orion.
570:Later war service
546:Fiat BR.20 bomber
406:flight lieutenant
401:without mishap.
359:Battle of Britain
313:and operated the
251:Battle of Britain
197:
196:
158:Battle of Britain
1448:
1361:
1355:
1349:
1347:Frederick Aikman
1341:
1333:
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786:
780:
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762:
756:
733:
732:
730:
728:
714:
701:
695:
651:
523:No. 261 Squadron
473:Focke-Wulf Fw 58
455:
349:Hawker Hurricane
347:, it trained on
341:No. 249 Squadron
331:Second World War
275:British Columbia
244:Hawker Hurricane
240:No. 249 Squadron
232:British Columbia
218:
209:
153:Second World War
131:No. 249 Squadron
98:
81:
78:2 September 2010
68:British Columbia
60:
58:
35:
21:
1456:
1455:
1451:
1450:
1449:
1447:
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1445:
1391:
1390:
1389:
1384:
1366:
1354:Leslie Gosling
1209:Robert Fumerton
1189:
1142:Willie McKnight
1134:Vernon Woodward
1122:
1103:
1096:George Beurling
1084:
1072:
1060:
1047:
1041:
1028:
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757:
736:
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724:
716:
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704:
696:
667:
662:
650: Cranswick
620:
604:Fighter Command
572:
489:
456:
448:
361:
333:
307:No. 41 Squadron
287:Royal Air Force
267:
236:No. 41 Squadron
221:Royal Air Force
207:
203:
190:
182:
141:
139:RAF North Weald
137:
133:
103:Royal Air Force
83:
79:
62:
56:
54:
38:
37:Barton, 1941â42
26:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1454:
1452:
1444:
1443:
1438:
1433:
1428:
1423:
1418:
1413:
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1393:
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1385:
1383:
1382:
1377:
1371:
1368:
1367:
1365:
1364:
1358:
1352:
1344:
1339:Hamilton Upton
1336:
1328:
1320:
1315:Irving Kennedy
1312:
1304:
1298:
1294:Donald Gordon
1292:
1284:
1278:
1270:
1262:
1256:
1252:John Turnbull
1250:
1244:
1236:
1230:
1225:Roderick Smith
1222:
1214:
1206:
1201:William Klersy
1197:
1195:
1191:
1190:
1188:
1187:
1182:Don C. Laubman
1179:
1174:Edward Charles
1171:
1163:
1155:
1147:
1139:
1130:
1128:
1124:
1123:
1121:
1120:
1111:
1109:
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1104:
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1101:
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1026:
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1007:
1001:
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983:
980:
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948:
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912:
894:
876:
864:
852:
840:
822:
805:
787:
785:, p. 353.
775:
763:
734:
702:
664:
663:
661:
658:
619:
616:
600:wing commander
592:Orkney Islands
571:
568:
488:
487:Siege of Malta
485:
451:London Gazette
446:
414:Heinkel He 111
395:Thames Estuary
360:
357:
337:flying officer
332:
329:
266:
263:
259:Siege of Malta
195:
194:
177:
173:
172:
171:
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168:Siege of Malta
165:
160:
150:
146:
145:
143:RAF Acklington
128:
124:
123:
121:Wing Commander
118:
114:
113:
110:
106:
105:
100:
94:
93:
90:
86:
85:
82:(aged 94)
76:
72:
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52:
48:
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44:
40:
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36:
28:
27:
24:
15:
13:
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1407:
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1402:
1399:
1398:
1396:
1381:
1378:
1376:
1373:
1372:
1369:
1360:James Walker
1359:
1353:
1348:
1345:
1340:
1337:
1332:
1331:John Mitchner
1329:
1324:
1321:
1316:
1313:
1308:
1305:
1299:
1293:
1288:
1287:Richard Audet
1285:
1279:
1274:
1273:George Keefer
1271:
1266:
1265:Robert Barton
1263:
1257:
1251:
1246:John McElroy
1245:
1240:
1237:
1232:Albert Houle
1231:
1226:
1223:
1218:
1215:
1210:
1207:
1202:
1199:
1198:
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1192:
1183:
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1175:
1172:
1167:
1166:James Edwards
1164:
1159:
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1132:
1131:
1129:
1125:
1116:
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1097:
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1087:
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1076:
1069:
1061:
1059:0-947893-15-6
1055:
1051:
1046:
1042:
1040:1-898697-00-0
1036:
1032:
1027:
1023:
1021:0-354-01028-X
1017:
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841:
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832:
826:
823:
819:
818:Rawlings 1976
814:
812:
810:
806:
801:
797:
791:
788:
784:
783:Rawlings 1976
779:
776:
772:
771:Rawlings 1976
767:
764:
761:, p. 26.
760:
755:
753:
751:
749:
747:
745:
743:
741:
739:
735:
723:
719:
713:
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629:
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624:British India
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569:
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531:
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516:
512:
511:
505:
504:
493:
486:
484:
482:
481:Kentish Knock
477:
474:
470:
469:Junkers Ju 86
466:
462:
453:
452:
445:
440:
438:
434:
425:
421:
419:
415:
411:
407:
402:
400:
396:
392:
388:
387:medium bomber
385:
384:Dornier Do 17
381:
380:Isle of Wight
377:
373:
372:Middle Wallop
369:
368:heavy fighter
366:
358:
356:
354:
353:Boscombe Down
350:
346:
342:
338:
330:
328:
326:
322:
319:
316:
312:
308:
304:
300:
296:
295:pilot officer
292:
288:
284:
280:
276:
272:
264:
262:
260:
256:
252:
248:
245:
242:. Flying the
241:
237:
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224:
222:
217:
213:
206:
201:
193:
189:
185:
181:
178:
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163:Channel Front
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101:
95:
91:
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73:
69:
65:
53:
49:
45:
41:
34:
29:
25:Robert Barton
22:
19:
1264:
1115:Henry McLeod
1049:
1030:
1011:
992:
970:. Retrieved
965:
961:
951:
942:
933:
924:
915:
906:
897:
888:
879:
872:Holland 2003
867:
860:Holland 2003
855:
848:Holland 2003
843:
834:
825:
799:
790:
778:
766:
725:. Retrieved
721:
644:
640:Air Ministry
621:
573:
555:
550:Macchi C.200
527:
509:
502:
498:
478:
458:
449:
442:
430:
403:
362:
334:
268:
225:
199:
198:
149:Battles/wars
135:RAF Skeabrae
80:(2010-09-02)
18:
1406:2010 deaths
1401:1916 births
1323:Robert Kipp
1307:George Hill
1300:David Ness
1258:Eric Woods
1217:Stan Turner
1150:Buck McNair
1081:flying aces
972:12 February
939:"No. 37958"
921:"No. 37119"
903:"No. 36866"
885:"No. 35329"
831:"No. 34976"
796:"No. 34989"
727:12 February
584:No. 9 Group
580:wing leader
461:North Weald
343:. Based at
315:Hawker Fury
61:7 June 1916
43:Nickname(s)
1395:Categories
1158:Mark Brown
985:References
636:Acklington
618:Later life
399:bailed out
345:Leconfield
291:commission
265:Early life
89:Allegiance
57:1916-06-07
1239:John Kent
759:Wynn 1989
590:, in the
515:Gibraltar
510:Ark Royal
433:Luftwaffe
327:fighter.
311:Catterick
279:Penticton
112:1936â1959
588:Skeabrae
447:â
391:Rochford
303:Thornaby
271:Kamloops
228:Kamloops
226:Born in
127:Commands
97:Service/
70:, Canada
64:Kamloops
1416:The Few
654:Arizona
610:in the
530:Ta Kali
503:Furious
465:Clacton
321:fighter
318:biplane
247:fighter
1056:
1037:
1018:
999:
410:London
283:Vernon
214:&
176:Awards
99:branch
92:Canada
1194:10â14
1127:15â19
1108:20â24
660:Notes
578:as a
540:over
519:Malta
397:. He
389:near
273:, in
210:
208:,
46:Butch
1362:(10)
1356:(10)
1350:(10)
1302:(11)
1296:(11)
1290:(11)
1282:(12)
1276:(12)
1260:(13)
1254:(13)
1248:(13)
1242:(13)
1234:(13)
1220:(14)
1212:(14)
1185:(15)
1118:(21)
1054:ISBN
1035:ISBN
1016:ISBN
997:ISBN
974:2023
729:2023
542:Gozo
508:HMS
501:HMS
186:and
117:Rank
75:Died
51:Born
1089:25+
968:(2)
648:nÊe
564:Bar
513:at
301:at
230:in
216:Bar
212:DFC
205:OBE
188:Bar
1397::
964:.
960:.
941:.
923:.
905:.
887:.
833:.
808:^
798:.
737:^
720:.
705:^
668:^
202:,
66:,
1062:.
1043:.
1024:.
1005:.
976:.
966:4
731:.
59:)
55:(
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