Australia's Few. 1 September 1940

On 1 September 1940, Des Sheen and 72 Squadron took part in their first combat since coming south. Roughly 30 Dornier light bombers, escorted by about the same number of Messerschmitt Me 109E single-engine fighters were sighted at Tunbridge Wells.

 

Des lined up a bomber and then ‘glanced behind and found six Me 109s bearing down on me’. He ‘mixed for quite a time’ with them. As he frantically twisted and turned, he ‘collected a shell in the engine. After I had disengaged I was climbing to reengage ... when the Spitfire started to burn’. He ‘was left with no option’. He rolled his Spit on its back and pushed the stick forward. The aircraft bunted and he was out, ‘clean as a whistle’. He somersaulted, straightened out and counted to ten before pulling the ripcord. ‘The parachute opened smoothly and there was a reassuring jolt, as it took effect’. His descent, ‘which took some time, was very pleasant’ but not without a sense of danger. ‘Quite close to me a Messerschmitt 109 went down vertically in flames’ and ‘another Me 109 turned towards me but a Spitfire turned onto his tail and both quickly disappeared. Des was fortunate the Me 109’s attention was deflected from him. ‘The Jerries shoot us coming down now and as I was surrounded didn’t feel too happy.’ As it happened, ‘quite a few Jerries were shot down so I was lucky and got away with it’.

 

Des’s Spitfire crashed at Court Lodge Farm and he landed in a field at Ashford ‘with nothing but a slight jar’. He released his harness and started to roll up the parachute. ‘A young girl came up and eyed me shyly and a few minutes later a young army lieutenant appeared on the scene, doubtfully waving his revolver in my general direction ... wondering whether I was a German.’

 

Australians were not common in the RAF at that stage of the war and the lieutenant did not recognise the dark blue uniform as belonging to an ally. Des ignored the revolver. He continued to pick up his parachute and started to chat with the soldier. All was soon sorted out and Des was staked a meal and a welcome shave at the lieutenant’s mess.

 

1 September was also the day Des Sheen traded in his RAAF uniform for RAF kit and sewed an ‘Australia’ patch on his shoulder. He would not be mistaken for the enemy again.