Harold Whistler


Harold Alfred Whistler, was an English fighter pilot and flying ace in the First World War.

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. Whistler was educated at Oundle School near Peterborough and then at the Royal Military College, Sandhurst.

First World War

Upon passing out from Sandhurst, Whistler was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Dorsetshire Regiment on 19 July 1916. 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. 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 on 1 August 1917, and was appointed a flight commander on 27 August, flying the Sopwith Camel. Promoted to the permanent rank of lieutenant on 19 January 1918, he returned to operations in France that year. He was credited with 23 victories between March 1918 and October 1918, all while flying the Sopwith Camel.

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. He was promoted to squadron leader on 1 July 1927.
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. 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.
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