WONZ 244 – Jim Sheddan

Guest: Cornelius James “Jim” Sheddan DFC, NZ412358 (3 March 1918-9 December 2010)

Host: Dave Homewood

Recorded: 19th of January 2010

Released: 17th of September 2021

Duration: 1 hour 9 minutes 11 seconds

In this episode Dave Homewood spoke with the RNZAF fighter ace Jim Sheddan in 2010. Jim was originally posted to No. 485 (NZ) Squadron on Spitfires but his time there was brief, and he ended up ferrying aircraft in all weathers, before being posted to No. 486 (NZ) Squadron on Typhoons, where he really found his feet. He talks about ditching into the English Channel in his Typhoon, and being rescued: crashing into a grove of trees; bailing out of another aircraft; shooting up trains, losing mates, air to air combat, shooting down V1 flying bombs in his Tempest, and a lot more. Jim was a real character. He rose to become the Commanding Officer of No. 486 (NZ) Squadron by the war’s end. He passed away in December 2010.

Here is a video version of this episode:

Image from the CJ Sheddan log book. Squadron Leader CJ Sheddan, Commanding Officer of No. 486 Squadron, sitting in the cockpit of his “personal aircraft”, Tempest SA-M. Unknown location in Europe. Aircraft fuselage markings are 5 1/2 swastika kill marks and a Squadron Leader’s Pennant with “486” added. Part of Tempest EJ672 SA-L visible behind. Air Force Museum of New Zealand ALB198236513001

Jim Sheddan, fourth from left, while he was briefly posted to No. 485 (NZ) Squadron on Spitfires. The tallest pilot on the extreme left is Les “Chalky” White, who Jim refers to in the interview, during the Tiger Moth incident. Air Force Museum of New Zealand ALB198236513035

Jim’s painting depicting his successful ditching in his Hawker Typhoon.

Jim Sheddan, centre, and his two No. 486 Squadron mates Flight Lieutenant CJ McDonald, left, and Flight Lieutenant Ian ‘Tubby’ Ross
pose on the wing of Jim’s Hawker Tempest SA-M. Air Force Museum of New Zealand ALB198236513003

NB: The music at the end of this episode is Wild Flower by Joakim Karud

WONZ 244 – Jim Sheddan

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