SHEEN, Desmond Frederick Burt
| Service Numbers: | Not yet discovered |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 7 January 1936 |
| Last Rank: | Squadron Leader |
| Last Unit: | No. 72 Squadron (RAF) |
| Born: | Sydney, New South Wales Australia, 2 October 1917 |
| Home Town: | Canberra, Australian Capital Territory |
| Schooling: | Telopea park School Canberra |
| Occupation: | Public Servant pre War / Professional RAF Officer post war |
| Died: | Natural Causes, Salisbury, Wiltshire, United Kingdom, April 2001 |
| Cemetery: | Not yet discovered |
| Memorials: |
Non Warlike Service
| 7 Jan 1936: | Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Air Cadet, No. 1 Service Flying Training School |
|---|
World War 2 Service
| 3 Sep 1939: | Involvement Royal Air Force , Squadron Leader, No. 72 Squadron (RAF), Air War NW Europe 1939-45, Posted to the Middle East |
|---|
Des Sheen, DFC and Bar - awarded the DFC
Des Sheen was awarded his DFC by King George VI for "leading three Spitfires against a superior number of enemy aircraft, of which he forced one into the sea and inflicted serious damage on another. Later he led two British fighters against seven Heinkels, and although wounded in the leg and ear, he continued the attack until a leaking petrol tank forced him to withdraw from the engagement". These actions occurred on 21 October and 7 December 1939.
Submitted 10 September 2020 by Steve Larkins
Biography contributed by Steve Larkins
Desmond Frederick Burt SHEEN DFC* Battle of Britain Pilot (1917-2001)
Sheen's father first arrived in Canberra in 1913 to work on the construction of buildings in the Acton area and returned to Canberra to live in 1923. By the time World War 2 started the Sheen family was living at the Causeway.
After completing school Des worked in the Prime Minister's Department for three years until he was old enough to apply (successfully) for a cadetship with the Royal Australian Air Force.
He travelled to England in 1937 where he was commissioned in the RAF.
He transferred to the RAF in February 1937, was posted to 9 FTS Thornaby on 20th March and after completing his training joined 72 Squadron at Church Fenton on 30th June 1937.
Still serving with the squadron at the outbreak of war, Sheen damaged a He115 floatplane over the North Sea on 21st October 1939 and shared a He111 on 7th December. He was wounded in this latter action and admitted to hospital.
On 20th April 1940 Sheen was posted to 212 Squadron, part of the Photographic Development Unit at Heston, and went with a 212 detachment to France. He was awarded the DFC (gazetted 7th May 1940).
After their aircraft were bombed on the ground in France, the PDU detachment was forced to evacuate its base on 14th June 1940. Sheen and the other pilots made their way back to England by way of Gibraltar, reaching Heston on 12th July.
Sheen was posted back to 72 Squadron, then at Acklington, on 29th July as 'A' Flight Commander, with the rank of Acting Flight Lieutenant.
On 15th August he destroyed a Me110, a He111 and a Ju88.
Sheen was shot down in an engagement with Me109s on 1st September and baled out, unhurt. His Spitfire, X4109, crashed at Court Lodge Farm, Ham Street.
On reaching the ground, Sheen was confronted by a girl and a young Army officer who, suspicious of the darker blue of Sheen's old Australian uniform, brandished a revolver. The misunderstanding cleared up, the girl took Sheen to a nearby house where a party of guests were enjoying pre-lunch drinks on the lawn as they watched the battle in the sky overhead.
On the 4th he claimed a probable Me110. The next day Sheen was surprised by a Me109 over Kent and baled out, wounded.
As his Spitfire hurtled towards the ground, Sheen, though wounded, managed to release his harness. He was sucked out of the cockpit, but his boots caught on the windscreen and he was left lying on top of the fuselage.
'After what seemed an age' he recalled 'my feet came free and I pulled the ripcord and my parachute opened with a terrific jerk. I just had time to see treetops underneath when I was in them. These broke my fall and I landed on my feet as light as a feather. A bobby appeared on the proverbial bicycle. He pulled out a flask, bless him, and handed it to me. "You left it a bit late" he said'.
He was taken to Queen Marys Hospital, Sidcup. His Spitfire, X4034, crashed at Wildage Farm, Bladbean.
He rejoined the squadron on 13th October 1940 and re-assumed command of 'A' Flight on 5th November.
Sheen destroyed a Ju88 during the night of 13th/14th March 1941.
As I opened fire I could see my tracer bullets bursting in the Junkers like fireworks . . . when I turned in for my next attack I saw that one of the Hun's engines was beginning to burn but just to make quite sure of him I pumped in a lot more bullets then I had to dive like mad to avoid ramming him.
He took command of 72 Squadron in April, damaged Me109s on 17th and 29th August and probably destroyed another on 2nd October. He was posted away from 72 in October 1941 and awarded a Bar to the DFC (gazetted 21st October 1941).
He commanded RAF Manston from 10th November 1942 to 18th April 1943, then commanded RAF Skeabrae and later RAF Drem. From March 1944 until January 1945 Sheen commanded HQ 148 Wing.
He was then posted to the staff of Air HQ Middle East, Cairo.
Sheen was released from the RAF in late 1946 and returned to Australia.
Sheen applied for and received a permanent commission in the RAF on 14 July 1949 and commanded No.502 Squadron, later receiving senior appointments at the Central Flying Establishment, RAF Leuchars, RAF Odiham and at Transport Command. After Transport Command, his final overseas tour was as Air Adviser Delhi.
He retired as a Group Captain in 1971 and joined BAC/ British Aerospace. He died in April 2001 in Salisbury, England and is buried in a 14th Century Church at Ellingham (near Ringwood), Hants with his wife Muriel (who was known as Rusty).
Compiled by Steve Larkins Sep 20
Sources
Battle of Britain London Monument - http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/Sheen.htm
The Canberra Times - 29 August 1946, 30 March 1995
Kristen Alexander, 'A British Engagement', Panorama, The Canberra Times (21 August 2010)
Canberra & District Historical Society Newsletter (ed.151, March 1974)
The Telegraph (obituary) http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/1332639/Group-Captain-Desmond-Sheen.html
AWM Honours & Awards
Information provided by Diana Foster-Williams, Noela Sheen and Kristen Alexander and Andy Fletcher
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