D.+C.+SHEPLEY

CWGC:  Douglas Clayton Shepley, 33464 Pilot Officer, 152 nd Squadron, Royal Air Force.  Died 12 th August 1940, aged 22. Commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial, Runnymede, Surrey, Panel 10. Son of J. T. and Lillie E. Shepley, of Holmesfield, Derbyshire; husband of F. E. Shepley.

 152 Squadron were based at Warmwell in July 1940 and Douglas claimed 2 Me 109s destroyed and a Junkers 88 damaged. His spitfire was lost over the Channel on 12 th August 1940. The Shepley family had lost 2 sons and 1 daughter in less than a year. Douglas’ mother and widow raised money to purchase a Presentation Spitfire, which carried the family name. This aircraft was flown by Group Captain F V Beamish, and was lost over the Channel on 28 th March 1942. A public house named the Shepley Spitfire was opened in Totley, Sheffield in 1979 by Seymour, Douglas’ sole surviving brother. The inn sign incorporates a portrait of Douglas in his RAF Uniform and the Shepley Spitfire.