Jim Sheddan

Cornelius James Sheddan, (3 March 1918 – 9 December 2010) was a flying ace of the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) during the Second World War. He was credited with the destruction of five and a half German aircraft as well as seven V-1 flying bombs.

Born in Waimate, Sheddan joined the RNZAF in April 1941. After completing his flight training, he was posted to the United Kingdom to serve with the Royal Air Force (RAF). He had short postings at No. 485 Squadron and No. 1 Delivery Flight before being sent to No. 486 Squadron in September 1942. Following the Normandy landings, he flew extensively during the RAF's operations to intercept V-1 flying bombs launched at England. Once the threat of the V-1s receded, the squadron flew in support of the Allied advance into the Low Countries and then Germany. He was commander of No. 486 Squadron during the final stages of the war until its disbandment in the immediate postwar period. Returning to civilian life in April 1946, he was involved in farming work and pest control. He retired in the 1980s and wrote his autobiography, which was published in 1993.

Early life

Cornelius James Sheddan, known as Jim, was born on 3 March 1918 in Waimate, in Canterbury, New Zealand. His family were farmers in the area. At the time he joined the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF), in April 1941, he gave his occupation as a tractor driver.

No. 486 Squadron, with Sheddan still in command, was transferred to Copenhagen in Denmark, remaining there until July when it went back to Germany, stationed at Lübeck as part of the British Occupation Force. It returned to the United Kingdom in September and Sheddan's time as commander ended on 12 October 1945 with the disbandment of the squadron. He ended the war credited with shooting down four German aircraft and a share in three other aircraft destroyed, a total of five and a half aerial victories. He was also credited with destroying seven V-1 flying bombs with a share in an eighth.

Later life

Sheddan remained in the service of the RNZAF until his discharge in April 1946. He was then placed in the Air Force Reserve until 1973. In civilian life, he worked as a farming contractor, first in Waimate and then in the Bay of Plenty doing shearing and fencing. He latterly worked as a pest exterminator in Wainui. He retired to Helensville in the early 1980s.