Navy Blue Fighter Pilot, by Michael Whitby – a three-part (6 page) series on the Second World War career of Corsair ace Lieutenant Donald Sheppard, who was stationed here at Shearwater at one time.

"Canadians like their fighter pilots. Perhaps more than any other figures in our military heritage they are a source of pride and admiration that even transcends generations. Bishop, Barker, Beurling, Collishaw and Gray are amongst those who receive the most acclaim — in the typical understated Canadian way — but there are many others whose names, if not celebrated, still ring familiar and are held with respect. Donald John Sheppard is one of those lesser lights: “A gallant young fighter pilot with plenty of dash and enthusiasm”, according to his superior officer."

Reproduced with permission from Dave O'Malley at vintagewings.ca/

Click here to start.

BEN VANEK, LARRY ASHLEY, [ in background], DAVE TATE, MACGREGOR 
MACINTOSH, SHEL ROWELL

GORDON LONGMUIR, TOM [PINKY] TURNER, JOHN TRURAN

PETER BEY, BILL HOOD [with beard], ALVIN JASPER, DAVID BAYNE

COLIN CURLEIGH AND HIS SONS, JAMES, GEORGE AND JON

BILL PARK, JAKE KENNEDY, GEORGE LAFORME, ED ABBOTT

BILL PARK AND JAKE KENNEDY, THE MAGNIFICENT

PETER BEY, AL JASPER, LANCE OLMSTEAD, STU MCGOWAN

TOM BYRNE, MIKE SHAW, SHAWN BYRNE

JACK TUCKER, JAN SILINS

GARY WHITE, BILL PARK

JACK MCGEE WITH JOHN TANG

DAVE CRAMTON, GEORGE PLAWSKI , JOHN TRURAN AND BUD MACLEAN

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