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Spitfire Biography

FLTLT Henry Oliver Whiting 411062

Squadron/s457 SQN
111 MFCU
Rank On Discharge/Death Flight Lieutenant (FLTLT)
Mustering / SpecialisationPilot
Date of Birth19 Jul 1919
Date of Enlistment31 Mar 1941
Contributing Author/sDavid Hamilton and Phil Listemann
Updated by Vince Conant
September 2013
The Spitfire Association


Henry was born on the 19/7/1919 at Adelong, NSW. He enlisted on the 31/3/1941 and eventually ended up in the cockpit of a Spitfire fighter with 457 Squadron. He later transferred to 111 Mobile Fighter Control Unit, from where he discharged on 21/1/1946.

Henry was one of those extremely competent pilots who work themselves through the ranks but never seem to come to notice. The fact that he transferred to 111 Mobile Fighter Control Unit is testimony to his ability as a pilot and as an officer.



The photo is of some of the pilots in the Squadron when it was based in Livingstone in October 1943. Back row: Flying Officer Brian F. Hegarty, Flight Sergeant R.J.K. "Jim" Thompson, Warrant Officer C.R. "Roy" Briggs, Flying Officer W.J. "Jack" Halse, Pilot Officer Allan C. Beckwith, Flying Officer S.W. "Bill" Reilly, Flying Officer Ian Chandler. Second back row: Flying Officer Ian S. Mackenzie, Flying Officer H. Ken Barker, Pilot Officer W.J. "Bill" Basey, Flying Officer South Creagh, Flying Officer Larry Alderson (Defence Officer), Flight Sergeant T.F.R. "Frank" Payne, Flying Officer Neil C. Ligertwood, Squadron Leader "Pat" Egan (Dental Officer), Flying Officer L.G. "Lock" Munro, Warrant Officer C.V. "Vin" Madigan, Flying Officer P.E. "Phil" Goldin (Intelligence Officer) Second front row: Flight Lieutenant D.R. "Doug" Edwards, Flight Lieutenant Wally Aldford (Adjutant), Flight Lieutenant Peter H. Watson DFC (OC A Flight), Squadron Leader K.E. "Ken" James (Commanding Officer), Flight Lieutenant D.H. "Don" Maclean (OC B Flight), Squadron Leader D.L. "Des" Peate (Medical Officer), Flight Lieutenant John S. Newton. Front Row: Sergeant Trevor R. Russell, Pilot Officer F. "Freddie" Feuerhardt, Flight Sergeant W.S. "Bill" Hardwick, Spitty, Pilot Officer A. Evan Batchelor, Sergeant G. "Mac" Jude, Flight Sergeant Harry Whiting.
United Kingdom. 1942-02. Spitfire aircraft of No. 457 Squadron RAAF in formation. Note: the aircraft in the foreground is code named BP-D
ZP-Y over Moratai

Learn more about the squadron/s in which Henry served.

457 SQN

457 Squadron, Royal Australian Air Force, was formed at Baginton, near Coventry, in England on 16 June 1941 in accordance with Article XV of the Empire Air Training Scheme. Init...

(Read more about 457 SQN)
111 MFCU

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(Read more about 111 MFCU)
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