Mike I have just recalled another reference in addition to "wartime emergency" used to cover these wartime temporary promotions and that is "war substantive"ie,the rank would not apply after the war had ended. As regards "deferred entry", I do not think it was in use in 1939,it was later in the war when RAF aircrew training requirements had escalated and the RAF had to match their large potential aircrew candidates with the aircrew training resources to hand at home and overseas.It was not relevant to those destined for non aircrew roles.As it was, RAF aircrew numbers were reviewed about August 1944 and a decision was made in the late autumn to curtail aircrew training. (Two late colleagues of mine returned from Canada as fully fledged navigators in early 1945 and were not posted to flying duties and ended up as "spare bods".I have seen where some trained NCO aircrew,one was a pilot who did get a few B.C ops in, related that much to their disgust they were remustered as AC2s since they were aircrew redundant after the Hitler war ended and as direct entries they did not have a trade rank to fall back on.)
Oh boy, did this just get fun. Raymond Brown Hesselyn, MBE, DFC, DFM & Bar was a New Zealander. Raymond Hesselyn - Wikipedia 222 Squadron Spitfire IX MH783 Fl/Lt. Hesselyn, RAF Hornchurch, Near Beauvais, France
Hi Harry and TD, I have just spoken with my Uncle who has recollections of Ray Hasslyn flying alongside my Dad. However, he thought it was Hesslyn or perhaps could have had another vowel between the s and l. He does not appear on any photos I have. Mike
Well done Dave. I see Ray Hesslyn was still in the RAF when he died as indicated by the Uxbridge reference and the CWGC non qualifying tombstone.Still serving with Fighter Command when he died at a relatively young age and one of many NCO aircrews who were eventually commissioned. Not many DFMs with bar about and a pilot who was heavily involved in the hectic defence of Malta when it could have fallen had it not received Royal Navy supply support and the RAF to defend its skies against a potential invasion.
Not planned deferred entry in 1939 - just a system that was set up for certain conditions and could not adapt to actual response so was curtailed until a pipeline of training could be set up. Pre war pilot training from flightless recruit to transition to operations was carried on frontline units (RAFVR/AAF or FTS and Squadron for regular RAF Units). The instructors and support staff for this function were earmarked as cadre for units that only existed on paper plans. On mobilisation units would be brought up to full wartime staffing immediately by embodiment of reserves that had recently left service but were still on reserve service. These men would not need any refresher on trade and could sent straight to unit after kitting. The cadre staff would be withdrawn from the operational units and would commence to form the wartime additional squadrons with embodiment of reserves. It was identified that this would curtail pilot training and transition to operational until specialist training units were set up away from Operational Unit structure. In particular Fighter Command was all "shop front" in terms of aircraft with no real reserve with monies and direction having been diverted to Bomber Command post Munich. Without aircraft for new pilots to fly Fighter Command was tasked with mainly using already trained reserve aircrew as replacements for a transition period. Ground crew training was a similar skeleton organisation needing time to establish from peace time use to war influx and it would be the embodiment of reserve that would tide the needs of the service over. There was such an influx of untrained volunteer recruits in Sept/Oct 1939 that the RAF put an embago on entering training until the pipeline was ready. They would enrole to claim use but it was not until late Dec/early Jan that untrained men started through the system. RAF Fighter Command declined to put Coastal and Bomber style OTUs into place until Nov 1940 prior to that relying on Group Pools and expanded Flying Training Schools being turned into Service Flying Training Schools and transition OTUs. So in late 1939/early 1940 progress of raw training depended on trade and Command intended by selection process until the system got into its stride. Ross
Thanks Dave, You have sorted that one. Perhaps I should have said my dad flew with him! He had only been with 222 for a month - thats why no photos I have just looked at his logbook - it makes sense now with all these nicknames, abbreviations etc The entry for that day on a 2nd Op: Spitfire1X (LF) ZD N Beauvais-Tille Escort Marauders 1hr 45 Hess missing* 1 109 to Hess Bags of Huns (No. 2 to Hess) * P.O.W. PARACHUTE FROM FLAMER On claims what is an HDT? It appears later in log. Regards Mike
Thanks Ross, That is really comprehensive. It is now starting to make much more sense. The pieces of the jigsaw are coming together. The trouble is some have fallen down the back of the settee! Sorry, thumbnail should be with previous post. Mike
UK, British Prisoners of War, 1939-1945 Name: R B Hesselyn Rank: Acting Flight Lieutenant Army Number: N.Z.404362 Regiment: Royal New Zealand Air Force : Officers & Other Ranks POW Number: 1371 Camp Type: Stalag Luft 3 Camp Number: L3 Camp Location: Sagan and Belaria, Poland Section: Royal New Zealand Air Force : Officers & Other Ranks Raymond Brown Hesselyn 1921–1963 BIRTH 13 MARCH 1921 • Dunedin, Dunedin City, Otago, New Zealand DEATH 14 NOVEMBER 1963 • Uxbridge, Middlesex, England TD Further details of his climb up the ranks New Zealand, World War II Appointments, Promotions, Transfers and Resignations, 1939-1945 NameRaymond Brown Hesselyn GenderMale RankSergeant Military Date28 May 1942 Military PlaceWellington, New Zealand NameRaymond Brown Hesselyn GenderMale RankFlight Lieutenant Military Date28 May 1944 Military PlaceWellington, New Zealand
