James Henry Whalen

Who was James Henry Whalen?

James Henry "Jimmy" Whalen DFC was a fighter pilot and recipient of the Distinguished Flying Cross. In 2010 the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight began a rebuild of Hawker Hurricane PZ865, the last Hurrican built. From 2012 this famous Hurricane will wear a new colour scheme, faithfully replicating Hurricane Mk IIC HW840, coded ‘EG-S’, of 34 Squadron, South East Asia Command during 1944, the personal aircraft of Canadian pilot, Flight Lieutenant Jimmy Whalen DFC.

Whalen was born in Vancouver, British Columbia on 23 April 1920. He graduated from Kitsilano Secondary School in June, 1938. He joined the Seaforth Highlanders Army Cadets in 1937. In 1940 the Royal Canadian Air Force formed the Royal Canadian Air Cadets with the first squadron starting in Vancouver . Jimmy transferred to this squadron and was named its first Wing Commander. At the time he was a first year student at the University of British Columbia. In 1940 the RCAF waived requirements for pilots to be university graduates, and on 26 June 1940 Jimmy enlisted.

He became one of the first candidates of the new Commonwealth Air Training Plan and trained in Ottawa, Ontario receiving his wings on 25 January 1941.