Like a dog with a bone I return to this subject. You chaps were very helpful before and now it seems I have the whole picture...sort of
According "a Tigers Tale" by Bob Cossey, Freeborn remembers replacing unnamed "hostile" flight commanders with the connivance of his station commander who apparently stated that he would ease them out with the award of a DFC!
Where this story unravels is when it is stated by Freeborn that he had no problems with Shepherd, inferring that his problems were with Dick Newbery (who had received a bar to his DFC a fortnight before Freeborn took command) and another pilot. I considered FLt (T. SLdr) Richard Acworth DFC for a time - he left in August 1943 but was a supernumery Squadron Leader at the time, and didn't get another DFC. Another possibility was Flt Bob Doe who was with the squadron July-August, also as a supernumery. I suspect neither would have appreciated being browbeaten by the irascible Yorkshireman! The fact that Newbery, Doe and Acworth all left in August must be a coincidence...surely?
Therefore it must be Shepherd (awarded a bar to his DFC two months after Freeborn joined). As confirmed by you fellows the replacements were Drew for Newbery in August 1943 and almost certainly Giddings for Shepherd in October. Given Freeborns unfortunate attitude towards the squadron when he joined, and the friendship of Shepherd with the previous squadron leader, Wootten, I expect "hostility" would be the very least he could expect when he insulted his new squadron. As for moving the flight commanders on to avoid discord, both left after over a year with the squadron so any proof of influence by either Freeborn or his superior, the flamboyant Arthur Vere Harvey, is very slight.
regards
Keith