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Photo #  NH 104380-KN:  Lt. Howard W. Whalen on board USS Sanborn, circa 1945

Online Library of Selected Images:
-- PEOPLE -- UNITED STATES --

Lieutenant Commander Howard W. Whalen, USNR(Retired), (1912-199-)

Howard W. Whalen was born in October 1912. During the early part of World War II he joined the Naval Reserve , receiving a officer's commission. In October 1943 he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant. A year later he helped place the new attack transport Sanborn (APA-193) in commission and, late in the year, sailed with her as she headed for the Pacific war zone. During the February 1945 Iwo Jima Operation, Lt. Whalen was responsible for guiding amphibious tractors and landing craft from the ship until they landed Marines and equipment on Blue Beach 2, the northernmost of the Iwo Jima invasion beaches.

Whalen owned a 35mm Leica camera, with which he had earlier photographed some of Sanborn's crew members. Though standing orders forbade it, he used that camera and several rolls of Kodachome film to make a unique series of color transparencies during the Iwo Jima invasion, showing pre-landing bombardment, assault landings and other aspects of the operation. Though reprimanded for this action, he was able to retain the slides, along with others concerning his ship and other late wartime subjects.

Leaving active duty as a Lieutenant Commander, Whalen became a high school history teacher at Bakersfield, California, and used his Second World War photographs in his classes. He was later an educational administrator and remained a member of the Naval Reserve until April 1962. Following his death, his widow shared her husband's color images with popular magazines and with veterans groups. Some of these photographs were published in the "National Geographic" magazine's February 1995 issue and in the December 1996 issue of the U.S. Naval Institute publication "Naval History". Mrs. Whalen donated the original slides to the Naval Historical Center in August 1997. With the exception of a few items that are duplicative, unidentifiable or of poor quality, these photographs are now in the process of presention on the Online Library.

This page features all the views we have of Howard W. Whalen, and provides links to photographs taken by him.

Photographs (originally 35mm Kodachrome transparencies) taken by Lt. Howard W. Whalen during or shortly after World War II are filed as Photo #s NH 104300-KN through NH 104397-KN. In addition, these images are filed topically in the following Online Library pages:

  • Iwo Jima Operation -- H.W. Whalen's Color Photos of Pre-landing Bombardment, circa 19 Feb. 1945;
  • Iwo Jima Operation -- H.W. Whalen's Color Photos of Pre-landing Bombardment, circa 19 Feb. 1945 (Part II); and
  • Iwo Jima Operation -- H.W. Whalen's Color Photos of Pre-landing Bombardment, circa 19 Feb. 1945 (Part III).
  • Iwo Jima Operation -- H.W. Whalen's Color Photos of the 19 February 1945 Landings.
  • Iwo Jima Operation -- H.W. Whalen's Color Photos of the 19 February 1945 Landings (Part II).
    Other photos taken by Howard W. Whalen will be added in the future.


    If you want higher resolution reproductions than the "Online Library's" digital images, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."

    Click on the small photograph to prompt a larger view of the same image.

    Photo #: NH 104300-KN (color)

    Lieutenant (Junior Grade) Howard W. Whalen, USNR

    Photographed circa 1942-1943.
    Original 35mm Kodachrome transparency.

    Collection of Lieutenant Commander Howard W. Whalen, USNR. Donated by Mrs. Nadine Whalen, 1997.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 68KB; 475 x 765 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 104375-KN (color)

    Lieutenant Howard W. Whalen, USNR

    At New Caledonia, circa 1945, while he was serving as an officer of USS Sanborn (APA-193).
    Original 35mm Kodachrome transparency.

    Collection of Lieutenant Commander Howard W. Whalen, USNR. Donated by Mrs. Nadine Whalen, 1997.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 106KB; 740 x 525 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 104380-KN (color)

    Lieutenant Howard W. Whalen, USNR

    On board USS Sanborn (APA-193), circa 1945.
    Original 35mm Kodachrome transparency.

    Collection of Lieutenant Commander Howard W. Whalen, USNR. Donated by Mrs. Nadine Whalen, 1997.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 54KB; 740 x 530 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 104389-KN (color)

    Lieutenant Howard W. Whalen, USNR

    With binoculars, on board USS Sanborn (APA-193), circa 1945.
    Original 35mm Kodachrome transparency.

    Collection of Lieutenant Commander Howard W. Whalen, USNR. Donated by Mrs. Nadine Whalen, 1997.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 53KB; 740 x 530 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 104382-KN (color)

    Lieutenant Howard W. Whalen, USNR

    Holding binoculars on the bridge of USS Sanborn (APA-193), circa 1945.
    His helmet is marked "Gunnery Officer".
    Original 35mm Kodachrome transparency.

    Collection of Lieutenant Commander Howard W. Whalen, USNR. Donated by Mrs. Nadine Whalen, 1997.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 56KB; 740 x 530 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 104388-KN (color)

    Lieutenant Howard W. Whalen, USNR

    Holding binoculars on the bridge of USS Sanborn (APA-193), circa 1945.
    His helmet is marked "Gunnery Officer".
    Note the binnacle and other bridge equipment.
    Original 35mm Kodachrome transparency.

    Collection of Lieutenant Commander Howard W. Whalen, USNR. Donated by Mrs. Nadine Whalen, 1997.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 78KB; 740 x 530 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 104381-KN (color)

    USS Sanborn (APA-193)

    Group of the ship's officers posing on board, circa 1945.
    They are (from left to right, as identified by Andrew M. Klein during the 1990s):
    Ensign Andrew M. Klein;
    Lieutenant Howard W. Whalen;
    Ensign Louis V. Shepard; and
    Lieutenant (Junior Grade) Carl Jackson.
    Note the grey uniform worn by Lt. Whalen and the khaki uniforms worn by the other officers.
    Original 35mm Kodachrome transparency.

    Collection of Lieutenant Commander Howard W. Whalen, USNR. Donated by Mrs. Nadine Whalen, 1997.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 77KB; 740 x 525 pixels

     


    Photographs (originally 35mm Kodachrome transparencies) taken by Lt. Howard W. Whalen during or shortly after World War II are filed as Photo #s NH 104300-KN through NH 104397-KN. In addition, these images are filed topically in the following Online Library pages:

  • Iwo Jima Operation -- H.W. Whalen's Color Photos of Pre-landing Bombardment, circa 19 Feb. 1945;
  • Iwo Jima Operation -- H.W. Whalen's Color Photos of Pre-landing Bombardment, circa 19 Feb. 1945 (Part II); and
  • Iwo Jima Operation -- H.W. Whalen's Color Photos of Pre-landing Bombardment, circa 19 Feb. 1945 (Part III).
    Other photos taken by Howard W. Whalen will be added in the future.


    If you want higher resolution reproductions than the "Online Library's" digital images, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."


    Return to Naval Historical Center home page.

    Page made 31 December 2006