F/Lt. Charnock was born on 20th June 1905 in Chorley, Lancashire.

Harry joined theRAF College at Cranwell in January 1924. He was commissioned in December 1925, and joined 32 Squadron on 16th.

On 18th August 1930, he was posted to 1 Squadron at Tangmere. On 12th December he was cashiered by order of General Court Martial for a low-flying offence.

On 5th September 1939, Harry rejoined the RAF and was posted to 64 Squadron at Church Fenton as a Sergeant-pilot.

On 6th December 1940, he crashed Spitfire K9903 during a routine patrol. Although he was unhurt, the aircraft was a write-off.

In October, he was posted to 19 Squadron at Fowlmere.
On 11th November, he claimed a Bf 109 destroyed.
During his time with the squadron, he claimed two further victories; a Bf 109 on 21st July, and another on 7th August 1941.
Harry was awarded the DFM on 7th April 1942.

In early August, he was posted to 72 Squadron, which moved to Gibraltar in November, and on 16th it moved on to Algiers where it began patrols the next day. Between 25th November and 18th December, he claimed a FW 190 and four Bf 109s destroyed, and a probable Bf 109 destroyed. His run ended when he was shot down himself on 18th and landed in enemy territory. He bribed an Arab to lead him to the British lines, where he went to a base hospital.

He was commissioned in January 1943 and awarded the DFC on 26th February, returning to the squadron on 17th March.

After a rest Harry returned to Britain and joined 222 Squadron in July 1944. Two days after, he was injured in a car accident and did not return to operations until 1945, when he was posted as Flight Commander to 41 Squadron at Volkel, and was released from the RAF on 24th November, as a Flight Lieutenant.

Harry Charnock passed away on 24th May 1974.