33 Facts About Raymond Hesselyn

Raymond Hesselyn was sent to Europe to serve with the RAF.

Raymond Brown Hesselyn was born in Dunedin, New Zealand, on 13 March 1921, one of three sons of George Hesselyn, a carpenter, and Majorie.

Raymond Hesselyn attended Oamaru North School before going on to Waitaki Boys' High School where one of his classmates was Fraser Barron, who would become a notable bomber pilot during the Second World War.

In 1937, the family moved to Invercargill and Raymond Hesselyn briefly attended Southland Boys' High School.

At the outbreak of the Second World War, Raymond Hesselyn was a corporal in the Territorial Force.

Raymond Hesselyn declined in favour of enlisting in the Royal New Zealand Air Force and was formally attested on 23 June 1940.

Raymond Hesselyn was only there for three weeks before he was transferred to No 234 Squadron having been promoted a flight sergeant.

Raymond Hesselyn volunteered for an overseas posting and in February 1942, he was advised that he was to be sent to Malta, where he would join the island's air defences during incessant Axis attacks.

Raymond Hesselyn had a faulty gunsight and radio which meant he took little part in the ensuing dogfight.

Raymond Hesselyn became caught up in celebrating his victory and was nearly shot down himself.

Raymond Hesselyn's attack ended prematurely when his cannons jammed so he was only able to claim the bomber as damaged.

Raymond Hesselyn engaged the escorting Bf 109s and destroyed one.

Raymond Hesselyn shot down one and damaged a Bf 109 that was strafing the airfield.

Raymond Hesselyn has destroyed 5 enemy aircraft, 2 of which he shot down in one engagement.

Raymond Hesselyn promptly took evasive action, which saw the attacking aircraft overshoot him and enter the range of his cannons; he opened fire and destroyed the Bf 109.

Raymond Hesselyn arrived in England with another No 249 Squadron pilot, Flight Lieutenant Virgil "Paul" Brennan.

In early 1943 Raymond Hesselyn returned to No 501 Squadron, his former unit, which at the time was based in Northern Ireland.

Raymond Hesselyn was then attacked by a Fw 190, which set his Spitfire on fire.

Raymond Hesselyn was forced to bail out of his burning aircraft, and on landing was made a prisoner of war.

Raymond Hesselyn's successes are a fine tribute to his great skill, courage and keenness.

Raymond Hesselyn was sent to the Stalag Luft I prisoner of war camp, near Barth in the northeast of Germany.

In later life, Raymond Hesselyn alleged that he had been castrated by the Germans as punishment.

Stalag Luft I was liberated by the Russian Army on 1 May 1945, and two weeks later Raymond Hesselyn was repatriated back to England.

Raymond Hesselyn went to New Zealand in March 1947 to visit his family.

Raymond Hesselyn attended a number of functions in his honour but did not enjoy the attention and family members noted he kept late hours, struggled to sleep, and drank heavily.

Raymond Hesselyn was a divorcee and was nine years older than Hesselyn.

Raymond Hesselyn was financially well off, with his book having sold in excess of 50,000 copies.

Raymond Hesselyn was disciplined again for an incident where he was careless with the discharge of a rifle while target shooting.

In 1954 Raymond Hesselyn was posted to Germany to serve as a plans officer with the headquarters of No 83 Group at the RAF base at Wahn, Cologne.

Raymond Hesselyn then returned to the United Kingdom and was assigned to RAF Horsham St Faith as a recovery officer.

Raymond Hesselyn's health began to decline in April 1963 due to what was initially believed to be a stomach ulcer, but was later found to be cancer; he died at the RAF Hospital at Uxbridge on 14 November 1963, aged 42.

Raymond Hesselyn is buried in the Hillingdon and Uxbridge Cemetery at Hillingdon.

Raymond Hesselyn is credited with 18 enemy aircraft destroyed, a half share in another, two probably destroyed, and seven damaged.