Daniel J Sheehan, Lieut RFC, after acting for a time as a flying instructor at Oxford, England, went on active service again in 1917 with the British No. 66 Squadron based near Arras, France. The photo shows him in a Sopwith Pup fighter biplane which his squadron was equipped with. It was a stable, easy to fly aircraft, but an underpowered battle-plane. The aircraft type, though an excellent trainer, was by spring 1917 already outclassed and being decimated by the mainstream German opponents (see Wikipedia Bloody April and Sopwith Pup) of the Jagdstaffel 11 with their excellent Albatros D.III fighter biplane. Although nimble and manoeuvrable, the Pup was nowhere near as fast or powerful as its German opponents, and could not hope to outpace or out climb them. As well, the Pup was equipped with one synchronized Vickers machine gun, while the German planes featured two or more synchronized Spandau machine guns. The 66 Squadron had to make do with its Pups until later in the year when they would be outfitted with the much more effective Sopwith Camels. Sheehan was killed on 10 May 1917, when on an early morning patrolling expedition, a superior body of the German Jagdstaffel 11 aircraft engaged the Sopwith Pups, and Sheehan and another officer were killed. His superior officer wrote: he was loved by all and was by nature absolutely devoid of fear. His biography as first printed and published by His Majesty's Stationary Office London, 1921 publication: Officers Died in the Great War 1914-19. He was reportedly shot down by the German ace Lothar von Richthofen (brother of the Red Baron) over Vitry-en-Artois east of Arras, his 22nd victory. (see Franks, Norman and Giblin, Hal: ''Under the Guns of the German Aces; Immelmann, Voss, Goring, Lothar Von Richthofen'', The Complete Record of their Victories and Victims p. 165, Grub Street, London (1997) ISBN 1-898697-72-8), also http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/germany/richthofen1.php Victory no. 22 details of Lothar von Richthofen. According to his family he managed to land the damaged plane in an open field, near Noyelles-lès-Vermelles, before he died in the cockpit. Lieut Sheehan was buried at the Commonwealth War Graves Commission Cabaret Rouge Cemetery (grave plot N16) at Souchez (14km north of Arras, sw of Lille, France (see http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=583970 Casualty details—Sheehan D J.

Headstone of Daniel J Sheehan 2nd Lieut RFC, in the Cabaret Rouge British War Cemetery, Souchez, France. The cemetery lies 14km north of Arras on the D937 national route in the direction of Béthune. His grave is in plot 16, row N16 an d is maintained and serviced by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

Daniel Joseph Sheehan, (1894–1917) 2nd Lieutenant Royal Flying Corps (RFC), was the eldest of three sons of Captain DD Sheehan MP, all of whom served with him on the Western Front during World War I. Photograph shows him in Cork while on home leave in 1916. He was educated at Christian College, Cork, and Mount St. Joseph's College, Roscrea and played for Munster two years in the Senior College Inter-Provincial Rugby Championships when considered the best three-quarter back in Ireland. He joined the Devitt and Moore's Ocean Training Ship ''Medway'' as a Cadet in 1912, winning first prize for Navigation and General Seamanship. He transferred to HMS ''Hibernia'' as midshipman R.N.R. (Royal Navy Reserve), for training with a view to a permanent commission in the Royal Navy. After serving with the 3rd Battle (naval) Squadron in the North Sea, on the outbreak of World War I in 1914–15, he transferred to the Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS), obtaining his aviator's certificate in 1915. He was wounded while flying in Belgium, and, being regarded as unfit for further service with RNAS, received permission to transfer to the Royal Flying Corps. He was engaged for a time as an instructor at Oxford, England, then went on active service again in 1917 with the British No. 66 Squadron in France. He died on 10 May 1917, when on a scouting expedition, a superior body of enemy aircraft engaged the British battle-plane, and Lieut Sheehan and another officer were killed. His superior officer wrote: he was loved by all and was by nature absolutely devoid of fear. His biography as first printed and published by His Majesty's Stationary Office London, 1921 publication: Officers Died in the Great War 1914-19. He was buried at the Commonwealth War Graves Commission's Cabaret Rouge Cemetery (grave plot N16) at Souchez (14 km. north of Arras, sw. of Lille), France.