Harold Whistler

{{short description|British World War I flying ace}} {{EngvarB|date=June 2017}} {{Use dmy dates|date=June 2017}}  {{Infobox military person | name = Harold Alfred Whistler | image = | image_size = | alt = | caption = | birth_name = | nickname = Willy | birth_date = {{Birth date|df=yes|1896|12|30}} | birth_place = Theddlethorpe, Lincolnshire, England | death_date = {{Death date and age|df=yes|1940|3|1|1896|12|30}} | death_place = Over the Gulf of Oman | burial_place = | burial_label = | burial_coordinates =  | allegiance = United Kingdom | branch = British Army Royal Air Force | service_years = 1916–1940 | rank = Group Captain | service_number =  | unit = No. 3 Squadron RFC No. 80 Squadron RAF | commands = No. 55 Squadron RAF | battles = World War I {{*}}Western Front World War II | battles_label = | awards = Distinguished Service Order Distinguished Flying Cross & 2 Bars | memorials = | spouse =  | relations = | other_work = }} Group Captain '''Harold Alfred Whistler''', {{Post-nominals|country=GBR|DSO|DFC2|size=100%|sep=,}} (30 December 1896 – March 1940) was an English fighter pilot and flying ace in the First World War.<ref name="theaerodrome">{{cite web |url=http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/england/whistler.php |title=Harold Alfred Whistler |work=The Aerodrome |year=2016 |accessdate=11 April 2016}}</ref>

==Early life== Alfred Harold Whistler was born in 1896 in Theddlethorpe, Lincolnshire, the son of Alfred James Whistler, a clergyman, and his wife Mary Maud. In the 1901 Census for Louth he is listed as Harold Alfred Whistler aged 4 with his parents, older brother and two older sisters living at the Rectory, Little Carlton.<ref>1901 Census, Louth Registration District RG13/3086 Folio 39, Page 8</ref> Whistler was educated at Oundle School near Peterborough and then at the Royal Military College, Sandhurst.<ref name="theaerodrome"/>

==First World War== Upon passing out from Sandhurst, Whistler was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Dorsetshire Regiment on 19 July 1916.<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=29671 |page=7103 |date=18 July 1916}}</ref> He subsequently transferred to the Royal Flying Corps to be trained as a pilot, and was seconded to the RFC on 29 September with the appointment of flying officer.<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=29790|supp=y |page=10067 |date=19 October 1916 |nolink=yes}}</ref> He was soon on operations and was wounded in action on 29 January 1917 when he was with 3 Squadron RFC. When he recovered he joined 80 Squadron RFC. He was promoted to the temporary rank of lieutenant (while serving with the RFC) on 1 August 1917, and was appointed a flight commander on 27 August, flying the Sopwith Camel.<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=30352|supp=y |page=11011 |date=26 October 1917 |nolink=yes}}</ref><ref>{{London Gazette |issue=30277|supp=y |page=9354 |date=7 September 1917 |nolink=yes}}</ref> Promoted to the permanent rank of lieutenant on 19 January 1918, he returned to operations in France that year.<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=30612|supp=y |page=4119 |date=2 April 1918 |nolink=yes}}</ref> 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.<ref name="theaerodrome"/>

==Post war== With the end of the war he stayed in the Royal Air Force as an instructor with various units. On 1 August 1919, he received a permanent commission in the new Royal Air Force in the rank of captain (subsequently regraded to flight lieutenant).<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=31486 |page=9867 |date=1 August 1919 |nolink=yes}}</ref> He was promoted to squadron leader on 1 July 1927.<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=33290 |page=4240 |date=1 July 1927 |nolink=yes}}</ref>

In the late 1920s he commanded 55 Squadron in operations against the Najd Bedouin tribesmen. He was promoted to wing commander on 1 July 1934 and to group captain on 1 July 1938.<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=34066 |page=4233 |date=3 July 1934 |nolink=yes}}</ref><ref>{{London Gazette |issue=34527 |page=4248 |date=1 July 1938 |nolink=yes}}</ref> 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 on 1 March 1940 with eight aboard.<ref>{{cite journal |url=https://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1940/1940%20-%200669.html |title=Loss of "Hannibal" |issue=1628 |volume=XXXVII |page=217 |journal=Flight |date=7 March 1949 |accessdate=11 April 2016}}</ref>

His name is inscribed on the Singapore Memorial at the Kranji War Cemetery.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/1816608/WHISTLER,%20HAROLD%20ALFRED |title=Casualty Details: Whistler, Harold Alfred |work=Commonwealth War Graves Commission |year=2016 |accessdate=11 April 2016}}</ref>

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 1918 :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."<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=30827 |date=3 August 1918 |page=9204 |supp=y |nolink=yes}}</ref> * 2 November 1918 :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 9 August 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."<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=30989 |date=2 November 1918 |page=12960 |supp=y |nolink=yes}}</ref> * 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."<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=31170 |date=8 February 1919 |page=2034 |supp=y |nolink=yes}}</ref> * 15 March 1929 :Awarded a Second Bar to the Distinguished Flying Cross ::"In recognition of gallant and distinguished services rendered in connection with the operations against the Akhwan in the Southern Desert, Iraq, during the period November 1927 – May 1928."<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=33477 |date=15 March 1929 |page=1822 |supp=y |nolink=yes}}</ref>

==References== {{Reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Whistler, Harold Alfred}} Category:1896 births Category:1940 deaths Category:1940s missing person cases Category:British Army personnel of World War I Category:Royal Air Force personnel killed in World War II Category:British World War I flying aces Category:Companions of the Distinguished Service Order Category:Dorset Regiment officers Category:English aviators Category:Missing in action of World War II Category:Royal Air Force group captains Category:Royal Flying Corps officers Category:Recipients of the Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom) Category:Graduates of the Royal Military College, Sandhurst Category:People from East Lindsey District Category:Military personnel from Lincolnshire Category:People educated at Oundle School Category:Victims of aviation accidents or incidents in international waters Category:Victims of aviation accidents or incidents in 1940