Biographical Data
Sheppard, Donald John Photo Credit: Unknown

 

Title	Commander (RCNVR)
Official Number	(nk)

 

Birth	21/01/1924	Death	02/05/2018
Place	Toronto	Place	Ottawa
Area	ON	Area	ON
Country	Canada	Country	Canada

 

Titles
Honours	DSC.
Awards
Qualifications

 

Biography
After his naval service he farmed in Nova Scotia and Ontario 1974-1984. He was one of only sixteen World War Two Fleet Air Arm pilots to achieve five or more air victories and thus was an 'ace'.

 

Military Service

He was appointed as a Naval Airman (Pilot Candidate) (HO) RN 1942. He served in H.M.S. St. Vincent for #38 Pilot Course 1942. He served in USNAS Grosse Ile MI for Pilot Training Course 1942. He served in USNAS Pensacola for Flying Training 1942. He was Awarded Wings 05/05/1943. (CFR). He was appointed as a Midshipman (A) (Temp.) RNVR (With seniority dated 05/05/1943). He served in USNAS Miami FL for RN Fighter Course 1942. He served in USNAS Lewiston ME for Martlet V Conversion Course 1943. He was appointed as an A/Sub-Lieutenant (A) (Temp.) RNVR (With seniority dated 22/10/1943). He served in USNAS Brunswick ME for 1835 RN Squadron 1943. He served in H.M.S. Victorious for 1836 RN Squadron 1943. He was appointed as a Sub-Lieutenant (A) (Temp.) RNVR (With seniority dated 01/02/1944). He served in the RN Instrument Course 1944, (Transferred to RCNVR 1944). He was appointed as a Lieutenant (P) (Temp.) RCNVR (With seniority dated 09/02/1945). He served in NSHQ for Staff Duties in Directorate of Naval Aviation 1945. He served in HMCS Stadacona on Miscellaneous Staff for RCN Air Section Dartmouth 1945, (Transferred to RCN 1946). He was appointed as a Lieutenant (P) RCN 1946 (With seniority dated 09/02/1945), RAF for Twin Conversion and Jet Conversion 1946. He served in RCAF Trenton for RCAF Instrument Qualifying Course 1946. He served in HMCS Stadacona for RCN Barracks Halifax for RCN Air Section (Dartmouth) for 18th Carrier Air Group as pilot in 883 Squadron 1947, (Transferred to RCN 01/06/1946). He served in HMCS Haida for Watchkeeping Training 1948). He served in NHQ for Air Regulations Project 1948. He served in HMCS Star for Staff of Commanding Officer Naval Divisions as Staff Officer (Administration) 1948). He served in NHQ for Special Duty at Canadian Joint Air Training Centre (Rivers MB) as Naval Assistant to the Commandant and Deputy Chief Instructor Offensive Support School Rivers and as Officer-in-Immediate Command of Naval Personnel at CJATC Rivers 1952. He was appointed as a Lieutenant-Commander (P) RCN (With seniority dated 09/02/1953). He served in HMCS Shearwater as Lieutenant-Commander (Flying) 1954, RCN Instrument Flying Course 1955. He served in HMCS Iroquois as Executive Officer 1955. He served in RCAF Toronto for RCAF Staff College Course 1957. He was appointed as a Commander RCN (With seniority dated 01/07/1958). He served in NDHQ on Staff of Director of Naval Training 1958. He served in HMCS Fraser (II) (In command) 1961. He served in HMCS Venture (Officer Training Establishment as Executive Officer and Officer Cadet Training Officer 1962. He served in HMCS Shearwater as Executive Officer 1964. He served in MARCOM HQ as Senior Staff Officer (Operational Requirements) 1966. He served in NATO Defence Staff College Staff Course (Rome Italy) 1969. He served in NATO Military Agency for Standardization (London UK and Brussels) 1969. (He was retired 01/01/1974). (He was qualified as an army parachutist.)

 

Vessels Owned
Aircraft Flown	Total Flying Hours: 2,655 hours. Total Deck Landings: 112. Service Aircraft Flown: Sparton NP-1, Stearman, Valiant, Yale, Harvard, Buffalo, Wild Cat, Corsair I & II & III & IV, Oxford, Swordfish, Walrus, Anson V, Seafire XV, Firefly 1, Expeditor, Meteor III, Martinet, Avenger, Sea Fury, Mustang, Dakota, Tracker, HUP-3
Named Features

 

Anecdotes

 

References
Government of Canada The Canadian Navy List Ottawa ON; Blatherwick, John (1992); MacFarlane, John and Robbie Hughes (1997); Obituaries (Toronto Globe and Mail 02/06/2018);
Last update
2018-06-04 00:00:00

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