LEST WE FORGET
Flying Officer Ian Douglas SHEEKEY
Service No: 413439
Born: Goulburn NSW, 28 September 1919
Enlisted in the RAAF: 17 August 1941
Unit: No. 168 Squadron (RAF)
Died: Air Operations: (No. 168 Squadron Mustang aircraft AM105), Hampshire, 28 February 1944, Aged 24 Years
Buried: West Thorney (St Nicholas) Churchyard, Sussex
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Terence Sylvester and Alice Johanna Sheekey, of Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia
Roll of Honour: Wagga Wagga NSW
Remembered: Panel 130, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Remembered: Victory Memorial Gardens Cenotaph, Wagga Wagga NSW
Brother of Pilot Officer Terence Bruce Sheekey (412720)
Flying Officer Sheekey flying Mustang AM105 was detailed to carry out a photo reconnaissance on 28 February 1944 flying as No. 2 to Flying Officer Stubbs. The section was airborne at 0840 hours and proceeded to the target to photo the enemy coast from Cabourg to Trouville. No. 1 aircraft flown by Flying Officer Stubbs proceeded to photograph the coast together with No. 2 When over half the run was completed at about 0925 hours Stubbs noticed that Sheekey had disappeared. Stubbs called up Sheekey but there was no reply. Later Sheekey called up Stubbs and said he was OK and setting course for base. Anti-aircraft fire had been encountered on the run but Sheekey has said nothing about being hit. Stubbs had contact with his No. 2 until he (Stubbs) had crossed our own coast but then heard no more. Visibility had not been good according to the other five pilots who went out and returned safely by flying below the cloud from Selsey Hill to Odiham. Mustang AM105 flown by Flying Officer Sheekey crashed at 1009 hours about 2 miles north-west of Petersfield, Hampshire. The aircraft crashed by hitting the ground and was not trying to force land and Flying Officer Sheekey was killed.
References:
Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour On-Line Records (RAAF Casualty Information compiled by Alan Storr (409804))
Commonwealth War Graves Commission On-Line Records
Department of Veterans’ Affairs On-Line WWII Nominal Roll
National Archives of Australia On-Line Record A705, 166/37/336
Register of War Memorials in New South Wales On-Line