Raymond Brown Hesselyn

Squadron Leader Raymond Brown Hesselyn, MBE, DFC, DFM & Bar (13 March 1921 – 14 November 1963) was one of New Zealand's top fighter aces 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 HMS Eagle (1918), to the island and joining 249 Squadron on 9 March 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 3 October 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.

Honours and awards

 * 22 May 1942 - Distinguished Flying Medal - 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 Empire - Flight Lieutenant Raymond Brown Hesselyn, DFC, DFM, (NZ 404362), RNZAF, for distinguished service while a prisoner of war.