| Rank | Flight Lieutenant |
| Service # | J/6941 |
| Unit # | 224 Sqdn. Bomber. RCAF |
Born 19/07/1917 the son of Lawson and Emily Wharram, of the 5th Cons., Romney Twsp., Kent Co., ON. he had four brother and five sisters LAC George of RCAF and LAC Ralph other siblings Florence, Narion, Robert, Mrs. Frank Marwood of Wakaw Sask., Mrs. Don Hickson , Frank and Hazel. Charles attended Wheatley High School.
Charles enlisted in December of 1940 trained in Chatham (basic training) at BTC 12, his Pilot training at Jarvis, ON., Victoriaville, PQ., Prince Albert and Saskatoon, Sask. He was at RCAF-Jarvis when he spent a weekend at his home at Trinity. WJ 6/03/41 He received his wings and commission as a Pilot Officer 20 August of 1941. The WJ reported 28/08/41 that Charles was at RCAF-Saskatoon and was at home in Romney on a weekend leave. The WJ 11/09/41 reported that Charles was recalled to Saskatoon where he received his commission as a Pilot Officer. The WJ 27/10/41 reported that P.O. Wharram had returned to RCAF-Debert. He then trained at Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island and Debert NS. until the 2nd of April of 1942 when he ferried a bomber from Dorval, PQ. to Britain.
While in Britain he flew seaplanes, Catalina and Sunderlands with RAF 119 Sqd. at Beaulieu and Lough Erne in Scotland and later at Pembroke Dock. In May of 1942 he moved to RAF 224 Sqd. at St. Eval, England where he was appointed Flight. Lieutenant effective 20/08/1943.
Flt. Lieut. Wharram’s final flight occurred 2/3 September, 1943. The crew of Liberator bomber # 959 on anti-submarine patrol from St. Eval to Gibralter, while over the Bay of Biscay, when they were engaged and shot down by an enemy fighter . F/L Wharram and one not Canadian were killed in the fight. F/O J. C. Miller DOW 8/09/43, four members of the crew were rescued on 9/09/43.Two surviving crew members reported that they were intercepted by four Junker JU88 off the coast of Spain near Finisterre in the Bay of Biscay. Charles was killed in the first Attack. The Liberator was ‘ditched’ after being badly damaged by enemy action and those who survived spent a horrible week drifting in a tiny life raft.
Rank: Flight Lieutenant, Royal Canadian Air Force, Unit Text: 224 Sqdn. Bomber
Age: 26, KIA – Date of Death: 02/09/1943.
A memorial service was held in Trinity United Church for Flt. Lieut. Wharram in early November of 1943. TT 18/11/43.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
| Supplemental Information | Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead, Grave/Memorial Reference: Panel 172. Memorial: RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL. Index of Overseas Deaths. They Shall Grow Not Old, TT 4/11/43, S.Wharram (nephew). |
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