: “The 34 Squadron wireless mechanics pose during the Monsoon season.  Jimmy’s crew, Joe Smith and Colin Willcox are in the middle.  The groundcrew had all of the work and none of the glory, working countless hours in terrible conditions, to keep the planes flying.. After Jim’s death Joe Smith took Jim’s flying goggles and cared for them for the next 57  years. He kindly returned them to the Whalen family in 2001 ”

Tom Evans, pictured here as a Leading Aircraftsmen in 1944, was Jimmy’s fitter. He remained in the RAF , retiring as a Warrant Officer, the highest non-commissioned rank in the RAF.   After Jimmy’s death Tom removed  Jim’s personal crest from his Hurricane and cared for it for the rest of his life.  His family kindly returned it to the Whalen Family in 2006