Raymond Brown Hesselyn
Encyclopedia
Squadron Leader
Raymond Brown Hesselyn, MBE
, DFC
, DFM & Bar
(13 March 1921 – 14 November 1963) was one of New Zealand's top fighter ace
s in World War II.
Hesselyn was born in Dunedin
, New Zealand. In civilian life, he was a machinist.
He joined the Territorial Army in 1939, before joining the Royal New Zealand Air Force
. After training, he was posted to Britain in September, 1941, joining first 61 Operational Training Unit (OTU), then No. 234 Squadron as a Flight Sergeant.
In February, 1942, he was posted to Malta
, flying a Spitfire
Mk V from the decks of the aircraft carrier
, to the island and joining 249 Squadron
on March 9, 1942.
On April Fools Day, he recorded his first two kills, a Bf 109 of JG 53 and a Ju 87of StG 3. During the month, he shot down another Bf 109 and Ju 87, and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Medal (DFM). May proved to be just as productive, with Hesselyn claiming four 109's and a Ju 88 of KGruppe 806. He received a bar for his DFM and was commissioned as a Pilot Officer. Before returning to England, he dispatched one more 109 for a total of 12 claimed victories.
After a spell at 61 OTU, Hesselyn joined No. 501 Squadron in early 1943 and then in the summer of 1943 to No 222 Squadron as a flight commander. He shot down two 109s of JG 3 on 17 August 1943. He received the Distinguished Flying Cross in September. His luck finally ran out on October 3, 1943. After downing at least one 109 (claiming three), bringing his total to 18 and 1 shared destroyed (possibly 20), he was forced to bail out of his burning plane and was taken prisoner. He was probably shot down by Fbw. Weigand of I./JG 26.
He escaped once, but was recaptured and spent the rest of the war making repeated attempts to rejoin the fight. As a result of his conduct as a prisoner of war
, he was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire in 1946. He remained in the Royal Air Force
, eventually reaching the rank of Squadron Leader
.
He died in Uxbridge
on 14 November 1963, aged 42.
Squadron Leader
Squadron Leader is a commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence. It is also sometimes used as the English translation of an equivalent rank in countries which have a non-English air force-specific rank structure. In these...
Raymond Brown Hesselyn, MBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
, DFC
Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)
The Distinguished Flying Cross is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force and other services, and formerly to officers of other Commonwealth countries, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active operations against...
, DFM & Bar
Distinguished Flying Medal
The Distinguished Flying Medal was a military decoration awarded to personnel of the Royal Air Force and the other services, and formerly also to personnel of other Commonwealth countries, below commissioned rank, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active...
(13 March 1921 – 14 November 1963) was one of New Zealand's top fighter ace
Fighter Ace
Fighter Ace was a massively multiplayer online computer game in which one flies World War II fighter and bomber planes in combat against other players and virtual pilots...
s in World War II.
Hesselyn was born in Dunedin
Dunedin
Dunedin is the second-largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the principal city of the Otago Region. It is considered to be one of the four main urban centres of New Zealand for historic, cultural, and geographic reasons. Dunedin was the largest city by territorial land area until...
, New Zealand. In civilian life, he was a machinist.
He joined the Territorial Army in 1939, before joining the Royal New Zealand Air Force
Royal New Zealand Air Force
The Royal New Zealand Air Force is the air arm of the New Zealand Defence Force...
. After training, he was posted to Britain in September, 1941, joining first 61 Operational Training Unit (OTU), then No. 234 Squadron as a Flight Sergeant.
In February, 1942, he was posted to Malta
Malta
Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in...
, flying a Spitfire
Supermarine Spitfire
The Supermarine Spitfire is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was used by the Royal Air Force and many other Allied countries throughout the Second World War. The Spitfire continued to be used as a front line fighter and in secondary roles into the 1950s...
Mk V from the decks of the aircraft carrier
Aircraft carrier
An aircraft carrier is a warship designed with a primary mission of deploying and recovering aircraft, acting as a seagoing airbase. Aircraft carriers thus allow a naval force to project air power worldwide without having to depend on local bases for staging aircraft operations...
, to the island and joining 249 Squadron
No. 249 Squadron RAF
No. 249 Squadron RAF was a Royal Air Force squadron, active in the sea-patrol, fighter and bomber roles during its existence.-First formation:...
on March 9, 1942.
On April Fools Day, he recorded his first two kills, a Bf 109 of JG 53 and a Ju 87of StG 3. During the month, he shot down another Bf 109 and Ju 87, and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Medal (DFM). May proved to be just as productive, with Hesselyn claiming four 109's and a Ju 88 of KGruppe 806. He received a bar for his DFM and was commissioned as a Pilot Officer. Before returning to England, he dispatched one more 109 for a total of 12 claimed victories.
After a spell at 61 OTU, Hesselyn joined No. 501 Squadron in early 1943 and then in the summer of 1943 to No 222 Squadron as a flight commander. He shot down two 109s of JG 3 on 17 August 1943. He received the Distinguished Flying Cross in September. His luck finally ran out on October 3, 1943. After downing at least one 109 (claiming three), bringing his total to 18 and 1 shared destroyed (possibly 20), he was forced to bail out of his burning plane and was taken prisoner. He was probably shot down by Fbw. Weigand of I./JG 26.
He escaped once, but was recaptured and spent the rest of the war making repeated attempts to rejoin the fight. As a result of his conduct as a prisoner of war
Prisoner of war
A prisoner of war or enemy prisoner of war is a person, whether civilian or combatant, who is held in custody by an enemy power during or immediately after an armed conflict...
, he was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire in 1946. He remained in the Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
, eventually reaching the rank of Squadron Leader
Squadron Leader
Squadron Leader is a commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence. It is also sometimes used as the English translation of an equivalent rank in countries which have a non-English air force-specific rank structure. In these...
.
He died in Uxbridge
Uxbridge
Uxbridge is a large town located in north west London, England and is the administrative headquarters of the London Borough of Hillingdon. It forms part of the ceremonial county of Greater London. It is located west-northwest of Charing Cross and is one of the major metropolitan centres...
on 14 November 1963, aged 42.
Honours and awards
- 22 May 1942 - Distinguished Flying MedalDistinguished Flying MedalThe Distinguished Flying Medal was a military decoration awarded to personnel of the Royal Air Force and the other services, and formerly also to personnel of other Commonwealth countries, below commissioned rank, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active...
- NZ. 404362 Sergeant Raymond Brown Hesselyn, Royal New Zealand Air Force, No. 249 Squadron, Sergeant Hesselyn is a skilful and gallant pilot. Undeterred by odds, he presses home his attacks with outstanding determination. He has destroyed 5 enemy aircraft, 20 of which he shot down in one engagement.
- 28 December 1945 - Member of the Order of the British EmpireOrder of the British EmpireThe Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
- Flight Lieutenant Raymond Brown Hesselyn, DFC, DFM, (NZ 404362), RNZAF, for distinguished service while a prisoner of war.