Wing Commander Donald Perrens was twice decorated for his work as a tactical reconnaissance Spitfire pilot in North Africa and Italy.  A former Army officer who escaped from Dunkirk, Perrens first flew with 225 Squadron during the campaign in Algeria and Tunisia before joining 208 Squadron Italy.  In January 1945 he took off to conduct  an artillery shoot against a large ammunition near Bologna.  He directed the gun battery and after 12 rounds the dump was destroyed.  Despite coming under heavy anti-aircraft fire he remained overhead until the enemy gun was destroyed.  The engine of his Spitfire failed and he glided back to Allied lines to make a crash  landing.  He was severely injured. He was awarded an immediate DSO.  Post war he was a schoolmaster at Eastbourne College, commanded an RAuxAF fight control unit and was OC the College OTC.

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