Harold Whistler

Harold Alfred Whistler
Nickname	Willy
Born	30 December 1896 Theddlethorpe, Lincolnshire, England
Died	1 March 1940
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service/branch	Royal Flying Corps Royal Air Force
Years of service	1916–1940
Rank	Group Captain
Unit	No. 3 Squadron RFC, No. 80 Squadron RAF
Commands held	No. 55 Squadron RAF
Battles/wars	World War I
Awards	Distinguished Service Order Distinguished Flying Cross and Bar

Group Captain Harold Alfred Whistler DSO DFC and Bar (30 December 1896–March 1940) was an English fighter pilot and flying ace in World War I.

Early life

Alfred Harold Whistler was born in 1896 in Theddlethorpe, Lincolnshire the son the Reverend Alfred James Whistler and his wife Mary Maud. In the 1901 Census of Louth he is listed as Harold Alfred Whistler aged 4 with his parents, older brother and two older sisters living at the Rectory at Little Carlton. Whistler was educated at Oundle School near Peterborough and then to the Royal Military College at Sandhurst.

World War 1

Originally commissioned in the Dorsetshire Regiment in 1916 he had transferred to the Royal Flying Corps to be trained as a pilot. He was soon on operations and was wounded in action on 29 January 1917 when he was with 3 Squadron. When he recovered he joined 80 Squadron as a flight commander flying the Sopwith Camel and returned to operations in France in 1918. He was credited with 23 victories ( 1 balloon, 13 destroyed, 9 'out of control') between March 1918 and October 1918, all while flying the Sopwith Camel.

With the end of the war he stayed in the Royal Air Force as an instructor with various units.

Post war

In the late 1920s he commanded 55 Squadron in operations against the Najd Bedouin tribesmen. By 1940 he was Chief of Staff of RAF India as an acting Air Commodore. On a return trip to the United Kingdom from India on an Imperial Airways Handley Page H.P.42 it disappeared without trace over the Gulf of Oman 1 March 1940 with eight on board.

His name is inscribed on the Singapore Memorial at the Kranji War Cemetery

Whistler was born Alfred Harold Whistler and his medal citations reflect that but other records list him as Harold Alfred Whistler.

Honours and awards

• 3 August 1919 - Lt. (temp. Capt.) Alfred Harold Whistler is awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross - A very courageous and enterprising patrol leader, who has rendered valuable services. He has done exceptionally good work in attacking ground targets, which he engages at very low altitudes. During the past month his patrol attacked eight enemy scouts who were flying above him. He attacked a triplane and brought it down in a crash, and whilst thus himself engaged another of his pilots destroyed a second enemy machine. The remainder of the enemy formation were then driven off.

• 2 November 1919 - Capt. Alfred Harold Whistler, DFC. (Dorset Regt.) is appointed a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order - During recent operations this officer has rendered exceptionally brilliant service in attacking enemy aircraft and troops on the ground. On August 9 he dropped four bombs on a hostile battery, engaged and threw into confusion a body of troops, and drove down a hostile balloon, returning to his aerodrome after a patrol of one and a half hours duration with a most valuable report. He has in all destroyed ten aircraft and driven down five others out of control.

• 8 February 1919 - Capt. Alfred Harold Whistler, DSO, is awarded a bar to the Distinguished Flying Cross, This officer has twenty-two enemy machines and one balloon to his credit. He distinguished himself greatly on 29 September, when he destroyed two machines in one combat, and on 15 September, when, following two balloons to within twenty feet of the ground, he destroyed one and caused the observer of the second to jump out and crash. He has, in addition, done arduous and valuable service in bombing enemy objectives and obtaining information. Captain Whistler is a gallant officer of fine judgment and power of leadership.

References

• Harold Whistler at the Aerodrome.com