Charles Hastings Upton was born on September 4, 1893. He was the son of Samuel Upton and Arexzine A Upton. Charles grew up in Somerville, where he attended the Forster School. He graduated from Somerville High School in 1912. He attended Tufts College, where he was an athlete and member of the Glee Club. He graduated with the class of 1916.

At the time of the war draft registration, in June 1917, he lived in Arlington, Massachusetts, and worked as a Civil Engineer.

He enlisted in the E.R.C. (Enlisted Reserve Corps) on June 16, 1917. He was transferred in August to the Aviation Instruction Center in Foggia, Italy. In March of 1918, he accepted a commission as 1st Lieutenant with the A.S.S.C. (Aviation Section, Signal Corps) and was assigned to the 50th Aero Squadron.

Charles died in an airplane accident during a target practice in the Toul sector of France on August 28, 1918. A gust of wind caught his wing, causing their plane to fall. Charles was instantly killed while his observer, Lt Woodley, was seriously injured. Lt Upton was buried with full military honors at Gondrecourt, France. His remains were later returned to his parents in 1921.

Source of information: www.findagrave.com, www.wikitree.com