4 September 1940. Des Sheen

Des Sheen was in the air again on 4 September 1940. 72 Squadron scrambled at 12.55 p.m. to patrol an enemy formation which had been spotted over Tenterton and Tunbridge Wells. Des, flying Spitfire K9935, was in the rearguard section. 72’s main formation engaged the enemy and dogfights broke out. Then Des and the rearguard joined in. Des:

carried out a quick attack from above on a Me 110 going into the circle. White smoke immediately began to come from the port engine. I broke off the attack and climbed up to keep a further look out for escort fighters. None were seen and as the remainder of the formation of enemy aircraft had disappeared I returned to base.

 

Des saw his 110 head inland in what seemed like a shallow dive and he claimed it as probably destroyed. This was his last claim during the Battle of Britain. His battle total was two destroyed plus this probable. His total claim of the war to date was 3 1/3 destroyed and one probable.

Since the squadron had come south, there hadn’t been much free time. Des recalled that after dark, they usually just lounged in the mess, had a few beers and that was about it as they were up at dawn the next morning. On the night of the 4th, the pilots were given a rare night off to go into London but the evening was a fizzer: they were too exhausted to enjoy themselves. They returned to base, bathed and then tumbled into an early bed. Their lack of energy was not just because of the long days and exhaustion of battle. Des later recalled that ‘I never did that many sorties in a day to worry about fatigue, but like most people I was apprehensive having to sit there waiting for something to happen’.

Blast from the past. Des in his RAAF cadet uniform with his mother.