Sheen, Desmond Frederick Burt (Oral history)

Australian officer served as pilot with 72 Sqdn, Nos 12 and 13 Groups, Fighter Command, RAF in GB, 6/1937-4/1940; served with 212 Sqdn, Photographic Development Unit, RAF in GB and France, 5/1940-7/1940; served with and commanded 72 Sqdn, Nos 13 and 11 Groups, Fighter Command, RAF in GB, 7/1940-10/1941 including Battle of Britain; commanded Headquarters No 148 Mobile Airfield, RAF in GB and North West Europe, 3/1944-1/1945

REEL 1 Background in Sydney and Canberra, Australia, 1917-1937: family; education; early interest in aviation; training with Royal Australian Air Force, 1/1936-2/1937. Recollections of period as pilot with 72 Sqdn, Nos 12 and 13 Groups, Fighter Command, RAF in GB, 6/1937-4/1940: background to taking commission in RAF, 2/1937; accommodation at RAF Church Fenton; opinion of Gloster Gladiator; squadron personnel; opinion of Supermarine Spitfire; degree of knowledge of German Air Force; reaction to outbreak of Second World War, 3/9/1940; initial combat with German aircraft attacking convoy in North Sea, 21/10/1939; move to RAF Drem; wounding during attack on German Heinkel He 111 over Bell Rock Lighthouse, 7/12/1939. Recollections of operations as pilot with 212 Sqdn, Photographic Development Unit, RAF in GB and France, 4/1940-7/1940: background to joining unit; operating over Italy from Corsica, 5/1940-7/1940; Italian Air Force attacks on unit; return to GB, 10/7/1940; impressions of Wing Commander Sidney Cotton; conduct of photographic reconnaissance work. REEL 2 Continues: Recollections of operations as pilot with and commanding 72 Sqdn, Nos 13 and 11 Groups, Fighter Command, RAF in GB, 7/1940-10/1941: rejoining unit at RAF Acklington, 29/7/1940; changes in squadron personnel; successes against German Air Force raid from Norway, 15/8/1940; shooting down of Junkers Ju 88 at night, 13/3/1941-14/3/1941 and reasons for lack of success at night fighter work; move to RAF Biggin Hill, late 8/1940; reasons for move to RAF Croydon; his shooting down near Maidstone, 1/9/1940; his shooting down, wounding and bailing out, 5/9/1940; amount of recreational time available; numbers of aircraft shot down; squadron morale; fighter sweeps over France, 1941; period as staff officer with No 9 Group, RAF and as station commander in GB, 1942-1944. Aspects of operations commanding Headquarters, No 148 Mobile Airfield, RAF in GB and North West Europe, 3/1944-1/1945: pattern of movements; duties as station commander; attitude of Allied pilots towards German Air Force.