John Henry HEDGER

John Henry HEDGER Update Details

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HEDGER, John Henry

Service Number:	418114
Enlisted:	25 April 1942
Last Rank:	Warrant Officer
Last Unit:	No. 3 Squadron (RAAF)
Born:	Caulfield, Victoria, Australia, 24 April 1921
Home Town:	Albert Park, Port Phillip, Victoria
Schooling:	Charlton Higher Elementary School (1933-35) Melbourne High School , Victoria, Australia (1936-37)
Occupation:	Clerk
Died:	Flying Battle, Italy, Mediterranean Sea, 6 September 1944, aged 23 years
Cemetery:	Ancona War Cemetery, Italy II. D. 7., Ancona War Cemetery, Ancona, Marche, Italy
Memorials:	Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Brisbane No 3 Squadron Roll of Honour, Charlton War Memorial

3 Sep 1939:	Involvement Warrant Officer, 418114
25 Apr 1942:	Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Aircraftman 2 (WW2), 418114, No. 1 Initial Training School Somers
25 Apr 1942:	Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Warrant Officer, 418114
11 Feb 1943:	Promoted Royal Australian Air Force, Sergeant
6 Mar 1943:	Embarked Royal Australian Air Force, Sergeant, 418114, Emb. Melbourne for U.K.
11 Aug 1943:	Promoted Royal Australian Air Force, Flight Sergeant
10 Jul 1944:	Involvement Royal Australian Air Force, Flight Sergeant, 418114, No. 3 Squadron (RAAF), Middle East / Mediterranean Theatre
11 Aug 1944:	Promoted Royal Australian Air Force, Warrant Officer, No. 3 Squadron (RAAF)

Biography contributed by Mari Walker

Son of John Edward and Ivy Ruth Hedger, of Albert Park, Victoria, Australia.

ONE CROWDED HOUR OF GLORIOUS LIFE

John Henry Hedger was born in 1921 and joined the AMF on 7 July 1939, and later enlisted in the RAAF on 25 April 1942.

In September 1944, his father, Mr. J. E. Hedger, of Kerferd road, Albert Park, received advice that his son was killed on September 6 as the result of air operations in the Mediterranean area.
Pilot Hedger crashed whilst returning with 300 and 400 lb. bombs. His Kittyhawk aircraft made a normal approach, but on landing the undercarriage partially collapsed. One bomb exploded under the aircraft and the other exploded approximately 40 yards ahead.

W/O. Hedger was born in Melbourne and educated at Charlton H.E. School and Melbourne High School. Later he worked in the clerical division of the transportation Branch, Victorian Railways.
In the Air Force he served in England, Middle East, and finally went to the Mediterranean.
Before leaving for abroad W/O Hedger was closely associated with the Albert Methodist Church.

Biography contributed by David Barlow

Warrant Officer Hedger 418114 in Kittyhawk FX750 of 3SQN was killed when he returned to Iesi Landing Ground half an hour after taking off due to technical problems with his aircraft

Without radio-telephone communication to control his approach he made a heavy landing and his bombs exploded

Virtual
War Memorial
Australia