Hamilton McWhorter was born on February 8, 1921, in Athens, Georgia. He enlisted in the Aviation Cadet Program of the U.S. Navy on June 21, 1941, and was commissioned an Ensign and designated a Naval Aviator on February 9, 1942. McWhorter participated in the Invasion of North Africa in November 1942 with VF-9 aboard the USS Ranger and then served in the Pacific Theater with VF-9 aboard the USS Essex from January 1943 to April 1944, and with VF-12 aboard USS Randolph from June 1944 to July 1945, during which time he was credited with the destruction of 12 enemy aircraft in aerial combat. After the war, McWhorter served as an instructor pilot at NAAS Waldron Field, Texas, from August 1945 to May 1946. He was assigned to NATTC Ward Island, Texas, from May 1946 to December 1947, and then served as Operations Officer for VF-1A aboard the USS Boxer from February to June 1948. McWhorter served as Executive Officer of VF-13 aboard USS Tarawa and then USS Philippine Sea, from July 1948 to February 1950. After additional training at GLS Monterey, from February to December 1950, McWhorter served with the Bureau of Aeronautics from January 1951 to January 1953. He then served as Executive Officer of VF-12 aboard the USS Franklin D. Roosevelt from February to September 1953, and then as Commanding Officer of VF-12 from September 1953 to September 1954. He served aboard the USS Coral Sea from October 1954 to April 1955, and then as Assistant Air Officer aboard USS Forrestal from May 1955 to July 1956. McWhorter served in the Naval Safety Center from August 1956 to October 1958, and was then assigned as Air Officer onboard USS Saratoga from November 1958 to March 1960. He served with the Chief of Naval Air Training from March 1960 to August 1963, and then with Naval Air Systems Command from September 1963 to July 1968. CDR McWhorter's final assignment was as Air Operations Officer at NAS Miramar, California, from July 1968 until his retirement from the Navy on June 30, 1969. Hamilton McWhorter died on April 12, 2008.