F/Lt. M. M. Shand was born in Wellington, New Zealand, and educated at Nelson College.
He joined No 54 Squadron on the 24th August, 1940, with some 20hrs flying on Spitfires with no training at all in combat.
He flew as No. 2 to Al Deere on his first outing. He was injured on the 25th August, 1940, at 19:20hrs. His Spitfire I (R6969) was attacked by a Bf 109 over Dover. He spent time in Canterbury Hospital in the next bed to Charles Stewart, also of 54 Squadron.

Michael had been seving with 485 Squadron (RNZAF) as Flight Commander, and was shot down while leading a low-level sweep against opportunity targets on the Dutch coast on 28th November, 1942. His aircraft was EP 595. He was taken prisoner and sent to Stalag Luft III.

After the war he returned with his English wife to New Zealand and spent the rest of his working life farming in the Wairarapa region of the North Island. His wife predeceased him, and he is survived by their son and daughter.
He died on 22nd December, 2007, aged 92.

Michael was one of the 76 that survived 'the Great Escape' on 24th March, 1944, from Stalag Luft III in Silesia, 100 miles southeast of Berlin. This “Great escape”, as it became known, was an outstanding example of planning, organisation and determination intended to allow 200 Allied prisoners of war to get away. By an unlucky chance, a German sentry stumbled across the exit point beyond the wire as the 77th man emerged. All but three of those who got out were recaptured and, of those on Hitler’s order (?) 50 were shot by the Gestapo.
Michael Shand was one of 15 of those recaptured to be returned to Stalag Luft III.