After almost six
weeks on sick leave, Des Sheen returned to 72 Squadron on 13 October, just as
it was withdrawing from Biggin Hill to Leconfield. While Des recovered—and
bucked at his enforced break from ops—his squadron had participated in almost
daily air battles. It had achieved much success but it had paid a tremendous
price: it has lost nine pilots during the Battle of Britain and 24 Spitfires
(two of them Des’s). Just as it had relieved a weary 610 Squadron on 31 August,
now the tired and much depleted squadron was replaced by a refreshed 74 Squadron.
For 72 Squadron, the Battle of Britain was effectively over. For Des, of
course, it had concluded after his second bale out.
Des was
appointed flight commander of A Flight. There was no operational flying for a
few days as they settled in and it was not until 23 October, in Spitfire X4596,
that Des flew his first patrol since his return to the squadron, and his first
operational sortie since 5 September.
During the next
few months, 72 Squadron moved to Coltishall, Matlaske, Coltishall again,
Leuchars and back to Acklington. Des recalled that most of the operations from
Acklington were ‘convoy patrols with the occasional chase under bad weather
conditions’. But they also did a lot of night flying, which was not easy:
‘In the 1940/41
winter we also did a lot of night sorties as we were on the bomber routes for
Scotland and Newcastle. Homing and landing aids were non-existent and I
remember one night in March 1941 heading for a bomber in the Newcastle
searchlights, when suddenly all was blotted out in a snow storm. I was told to
divert to Catterick but the radio went out in the static. I flew north until
coming our near the Farne Islands, I then crawled down the coast at sea level
until the river Coquet appeared. I did a sharp turn straight into the flare
path, almost out of fuel.’
Des was
appointed CO of 72 Squadron on 28 March 1941 and stayed with his squadron until
he was posted away to Headquarters 9 Group on 4 November 1941. He enjoyed his
time commanding 72 Squadron and considered it ‘rewarding, but demanding.
There’s quite a lot of responsibility’.
(Des
Sheen and 72 Squadron, July 1941. Des is on the extreme left.)
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