James Henry "Jimmy" Whalen

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Nine Jap Planes Felled By Seven Canadians

Ottawa, June 26, 1942 - (CP) - Air Minister Power announced today that seven Canadian airmen destroyed eight Japanese bombers and one fighter during the Easter raid on Colombo — "exactly one-third of the total number of enemy aircraft destroyed over the Ceylon port."
The seven airmen, all recently posted to Ceylon, were P.O. Jimmy Whalen, of Vancouver; Sqdn.-Ldr. R.T.P. Davidson, of Vancouver; Sgt. Jack Hurley, of Vankleek Hill, Ont.; Sgt. George C. Bate, of Saskatoon; Sgt. Creighton L Nutbrown, of Sherbrooke, Que.; P.O. Donald A. McDonald, of St. Thomas, Ont., and Sgt. Grant Bishop, of Mount Royal, Que.
"They avenged the death of Sqdn.-Ldr. L.J. Birchall, of St. Catharines, Ont., who first spotted the enemy fleet and flashed back the dramatic message which warned the island defenders of the impending attack," the air minister said.
Pilot Officer Whalen "destroyed three Japanese bombers," the statement said.
"I climbed to 15,000 feet above the City of Colombo," he related, "and saw a formation of seven bombers at 18,000. I climbed above them, dived and shot down two. I broke away, climbed again and got another. Then I was attacked by Jap fighters, but Squadron Leader Davidson saw my trouble, attacked the Japs and shot one of them down."
Sergeant Hurley destroyed one Japanese bomber and shared another with Davidson. Taking off with Davidson they both spotted a bomber and went after him. The Japanese was soon falling in flames. "I then went into cloud," said Hurley, "and emerged over the harbor where I ran into a Jap bomber formation flying in a 'Vic.’ I tackled No. 2 of the formation, and after I put some bursts into him he blew up. I was then attacked by Jap fighters, but none of them hit me.”
Bate got two Japanese bombers.
"I came down from above on them," he said. "There were several kites in a tight 'Vic.' I gave my first a few short bursts and blew off his tail. I shot across another, spraying him with fire, and he went down with flames streaming from his cockpit."
Sergeant Nutbrown chalked up a "probable." He chased the Japanese machines for more than an hour and returned with many holes in his aircraft to tell of the battles he had waged.
McDonald caught up with seven bombers at 2,000 feet, attacked one and sent it crashing down. As he turned away a Japanese fighter pumped cannon shell into his aircraft and oil sprayed all over him, but a Royal Air Force pilot came to the rescue and shot the attacking enemy plane down.
"I passed over the harbor with all the ack-ack fire blazing away," said McDonald, "and managed to make a forced landing in an open space. I clambered out of the machine and made my way to a local hotel for a bath."

Takes On Five Fighters
Bishop ran into five Japanese fighters, but took them on. After giving one of them a few bursts he found an enemy plane on his tail, and his controls and a chunk of his propeller were shot away.
"It was toward the end of March that Japanese fleet movements in the Indian Ocean portended an attack on Ceylon within two or three days," the Air Minister's statement said. "Catalina aircraft patrols were therefore well on the lookout. It fell to the lot of Squadron Leader Birchall to sight the enemy first and to him Ceylon owes a heavy debt. A few minutes past four on the afternoon of April 4 he flashed back the dramatic message that a large Japanese force was 350 miles south of the island. Then, silence.”
"He, and Pilot Officer A.W. Abbot of Aerschal, Sask., who was in the same crew, were never heard from again.”

One Catalina Lost
"Other Catalinas were immediately sent up to shadow the enemy and of these one was lost, but the Japs were sighted about midnight 270 miles south of the island. The enemy fleet was lost in the darkness then but it was evident it was moving against Ceylon and Command ashore spent the night calculating, issuing orders and making all ready for the attack. It was estimated that the Japanese would be in position for their onslaught at 7:30 next morning.
"Catalinas were sent up with the first light of dawn, and, prowling the approaches to the island, contacted the enemy 180 miles southeast of Colombo.
"Ashore all was ready. The fighter pilots were standing by, impatient to get to grips with the Japanese. Eager as any of the defenders were the seven Canadian airmen. Soon the order was given for the fighters to take off and soon the Canadians were back, flushed with their victories and happy in the knowledge that they had avenged Birchall." (Although believed killed at the time, Birchall was in fact picked up after being shot down into the sea. Called the "Saviour of Ceylon" by Winston Churchill, he miraculously survived the War as a prisoner of the Japanese. You can read more about it here)

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WHALEN, F/L James Henry (J15005) - DFC - No.34 Squadron (deceased)
Award effective 17 April 1944 as per London Gazette dated 21 December 1945 and
AFRO 155/46 dated 15 February 1946.

Whilst flying with this squadron, Flight Lieutenant Whalen has shown exceptional keenness as a captain of aircraft. He has destroyed three Messerschmitt 109s and three Navy 99s. As leader of a flight or squadron on most exacting operations Flight Lieutenant Whalen has attained much success by his determination and skill.

NOTE: Public Record Office Air 2/9633 has recommendation dated 16 April 1944 noting that he had flown 237 hours 20 minutes on operations:

This pilot has carried out with good success 176 sorties against the enemy, 107 being over enemy territory and 23 by night. He has to his credit three Messerschmitt 109s destroyed and one damaged whilst flying in England and three Navy 99s destroyed whilst operating in Ceylon.

Whilst flying with this squadron, Flight Lieutenant Whalen has completed 87 sorties by day and nine by night and has shown exceptional determination and keenness at all times. His ability as an operational pilot is above the average and the success of many of the squadron's sorties are due to his leadership, determination, enthusiasm , courage and keenness.

The Officer Commanding his station added his comments on 5 May 19144:

This officer, now missing, was known to me as a most gallant and successful operational pilot, both on defensive and offensive fighter and fighter-bomber work. He has throughout been a source of inspiration to all those who have worked with him, or under his leadership, and I strongly recommend him for the immediate award of the Distinguished Flying Cross.

Air Commodore S.F. Vincent, who commanded No.221 Group, India, wrote on 12 May 1944:

Strongly recommended. This officer was known to me personally as an excellent leader of a Flight or Squadron on most exacting missions - mostly low bombing over mountainous jungle-covered country. I discussed the recommendation for an award of the Distinguished Flying Cross with his Squadron Commander before his death on operations, and it was submitted then, so this is not being recommended posthumously.

To this was appended a summary of his 176 sorties. These were described thus: United Kingdom: Sector recce and patrols 13 Sweeps over France 15 Interceptions 5 Channel patrols 6 Africa: Red Sea patrols 2 Ceylon: Patrols 8 Scrambles 8 Escorts 1 Assam-Burma: Scrambles 9 Bombing and strafing 99 Miscellaneous escorts, etc. 10

A popular publicity shot of Jimmy after his triple kill

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WHALEN. JAMES HENRY - J15005 - D.F.C. Killed In Action April 18, 1944. age 22. With 34 Squadron (Lupus Volt Lupas Volat). Whalen was flying a Hurri-bomber (LB 780 "EG-X", his normal Hurricane was HW 840 "EG-S", down for radio repairs that day) and was shot down by enemy flak while carrying out a bombing and strafing attack against Huewi, Burma. The aircraft crashed near the Kohima-lmphal road in India. Flight Lieutenant Pilot Whalen was found weeks later, buried near the crash site, exhumed, and reburied in the Military Cemetery at Kohima, India.

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Victories Include :

6 / 0 / 1

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--- Canadian Aces ---

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