Leading Aircraftsman Jack Wharton
John (Jack) Wharton was born and lived at Greenfields, Walywyn Rd, Colwall. He was educated at the village school before leaving school to become a plumber’s apprentice at Messrs. W. James, Builders, Upper Colwall. He remained with the firm for seven years, before leaving in July 1938, at the age of 21, to join the R.A.F.
He was a keen sportsman, a member of the Malvern Rugby Club and Vice-Captain of the Colwall St James Cricket XI. During the War he was a keen boxer and won the Lord Wakefield Trophy and gold medal in RAF competitions.
In 1940, he was a leading aircraftsman and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Medal (D.F.M), whilst serving as a flight engineer / air gunner with 204 Squadron Coastal Command. The award of the Distinguished Flying Medal appeared in the London Gazette 24th December 1940. The official citation for the award was:
"During an action between Sunderland N 9023 and a Dornier DO 18, L.A.C Wharton was manning the starboard amidships gun at which position the gunner has to stand. Within two minutes of engaging the enemy he received a severe bullet wound in the left leg. Despite the fact that the wound was bleeding badly L.A.C Wharton remained at his post and continued to put up an accurate fire at the enemy until the DO 18 broke off the engagement, which had lasted fourteen minutes. L.A.C Wharton has been a consistently keen and alert member of a flying crew since the outbreak of the war."
Details of this action can be seen in his log book on 26th July 1940. He was flying in a
Sunderland Flying Boat 9023 off the Norwegian coast.
"Security patrol met & engaged enemy aircraft. I was wounded in left leg".
Earlier in the log book it lists an operation on 8th April 1940.
"Found the German battle fleet & got shot up by her. Searched for missing aircraft
(L5799) but failed to find her. Searched for German surface vessels".
On 18th September 1939, Wharton helped to rescued 14 of the crew of the Steam Merchant Ship Kensington Court, which was sunk by a German U-Boat. His pilot on that day was F/Lt Barrett, who was awarded a Distinguished Flying Cross for the action.
Jack served with 204 Squadron until January 1943 where he transferred to 4 C OUT. In September 1944 he moved to 45th group Atlantic Transport Command in Canada. In the immediate post war years he served with various squadrons and in 1949 joined 209 Squadron at RAF Seletar, Singapore. He makes mention in his log book of "Op Fire Dog Anti Bandit", this was the code name for operations during the Malayan Emergency. During the Korean war he was serving with 209 Squadron in various missions including anti-submarine and reconnaissance. In 1955 he joined 240 Squadron and in 1958 he was involved in meteorological flights over Christmas Island which was part of "Operation Grapple" during the British Nuclear tests in the area. He later served in Cyprus in the 1960's and ended his service with the RAF serving with 36 Squadron.
- George VI Distinguished Flying Medal "616661 L.A.C J C WHARTON RAF"
- 1939-45 star
- Atlantic star
- Africa star
- Defence medal
- 1939-45 war medal
- George VI General Service medal with clasp MALAYA "M ENG J C WHARTON (616661) RAF"
- Queens Korea medal "M ENG J C WHARTON (616661) RAF"
- UN Korea medal and Elizabeth II Royal Air Force Long Service Good Conduct medal "M ENG J C WHARTON (616661) RAF"
References
The society thanks C & T Auctioneers for the use of the photos which were in an Auction of Jack Wharton's medals and log book.