him to have some flying time on a Gloster Gauntlet. When Deere began service with No. 54 Squadron he initially performed administrative duties and it was some time before he was given the opportunity to fly his own Gladiator. Much of the squadron's training in peacetime involved formation flying and fighter tactics, but Deere also played rugby for Rosslyn Park, a South London club. Opponents included London Welsh and Old Blues RFC. His rank as a pilot officer was made substantive on 28 October 1938. No. 54 Squadron began converting to Supermarine Spitfires in early 1939, Deere flying his for the first time on 6 March. Although he enjoyed flying Gladiators, he found the Spitfire to be "marvellous". At one point, as he familiarised himself with the aeroplane, he blacked out as he was climbing at . When he recovered the Spitfire was diving towards the sea. Pulling out of the dive, he returned to Hornchurch and sought medical attention. It was found that one of Deere's eardrums had burst as a consequence of neglecting to increase his flow of oxygen as he increased his altitude. He was unable to fly until he recovered. Second World War On the outbreak of the Second World War, No. 54 Squadron began flying convoy escort patrols and missions aimed at intercepting German reconnaissance aircraft. Within a matter of days, it was involved in the Battle of Barking Creek, when it was one of several squadrons scrambled in pursuit of aircraft detected by radar and two Hurricanes were shot down in a friendly fire incident. At the time, Deere noted the need for improvement in how ground controllers directed the intercepting fighters as he found the volume of directions issued difficult to follow. The squadron also occasionally flew night patrols, which were not popular with pilots as the Spitfire was ill-equipped for this role. On one such patrol Deere, directed by a controller, very nearly flew into a set of barrage balloons over Harwich and then ran into a perimeter fence when landing at a foggy Hornchurch. Battle of France The Battle of France had commenced on 10 May 1940 and saw the gradual retreat of the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) to the French coast at Dunkirk and Calais. With the British squadrons already operating in France struggling to cope, from 16 May, No. 54 Squadron began to provide extra air cover over the