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 |
World War 2 Service
| 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) |
Help us honour John Henry Hedger's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography 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
Click images to start slideshow.