John Bean Shepherd

[keith A]

While flying as a Sergeant pilot with 234 Squadron he shared in the probable destruction of a Ju88 on 12 August 1941. However most other sources indicate 234 Squadron claimed 2 Bf109 damaged on this date. One to SL HM Stephen, another to PO Masters. But I have rerad that Stephens claim of this date was for a Ju88c of I/NJG2. Can anyone confirm these details?

[Chris Goss]

234 claimed 2 ac damaged on Circus 77 whilst Stephen, OC 234, claimed to have damaged Ju 88 C-2, Wk Nr 0845 of I/NJG 2 near Steenbergen-Ofw Willi Mayer + 1 were wounded. Shepherd is credited with a probable Ju 88 on that date-suggest you have a look at the F540 in the NA

[keith A]

Hi Chris,

It surely must be the same aircraft. I seem to remember reading years ago in a book by Baker that Stephens claim was raised to "probable" from "damaged". "Aces High" only lists the Ju88, While John Foreman's Fighter Command lists Stephens claim as a Ju88 also. If Masters made the other claim, and it was for a Bf109, it only leaves the Ju88 claim by Stephen as possibly shared by Shepherd.