Australians in the Battle of Britain. 31 August 1940. Desmond Sheen

As John Crossman continued to discover to his chagrin, the north was quiet. Des Sheen and 72 Squadron had had little work to do after the 15 August battle and it was clear to them that all the main action was down south. While there was nothing in the offing for the 13 Group squadrons other than a few uneventful patrols, 11 Group squadrons continued to be battered. Just as 79 Squadron relieved 32 Squadron, on 31 August, 13 Group ordered 72 Squadron to Biggin Hill to replace 610 Squadron.

(72 Squadron en route from Acklington to Biggin Hill)

72 Squadron arrived mid-afternoon at a station that had been bombed the day before and again just a few hours ago. Hangars had been blown up and several buildings were just rubble. Both male and female station staff had pitched in to the fill the bomb craters on the grass airfields. Even so, only one landing strip was serviceable. That wasn’t in the best condition and it took some time to land because the Spitfires had to pick their way through the hastily filled bomb craters.

After the Spits refuelled, 72 Squadron was called to readiness and at 5.50 p.m. scrambled for a patrol 10 miles south of Maidstone. For Des, it was a less than auspicious start to 11 Group operations. His Spitfire would not start after it had been refuelled. He just watched as the others took off and disappeared. Eventually his engine started. He took off not a moment too soon as the enemy bombers returned at 6.00 p.m. to bomb Biggin Hill yet again. Des did not catch up to his squadron so conducted a lone patrol over Kent, returning later to an airfield that had received another pasting. He was unable to land, so headed to Kenley. This detour is not reflected in the squadron’s operations record book but unofficial historian Roger Deacon Elliott records that Desmond was posted as missing, until he turned up later.