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411075 Sergeant John Gordon George Hegan. (surname underlined)
(redacted parents Mr and) Mother: Mrs. M.E. Hegan of Christchurch (city underlined)

Gordon Hegan was born at Christchurch on the 6th February 1919. He received his secondary education at Christchurch Boys' High School. His principal sport was cricket. His civilian occupation was that of a boot maker in the employment of Duckworth, Turner Ltd., Christchurch. In April 1940 he applied for war service in the R.N.Z.A.F.

Sergeant Hegan was enlisted for aircrew on the 16th February 1941 at the Initial Training Wing, Levin. On the 27th March 1941 he embarked on the "Aorangi" at Auckland to proceed to Canada for training under the Empire Air Training Scheme.

Shortly after arrival in Canada, Sergeant Hegan was posted on the 17th April 1941 to No. 3 Wireless School, Winnipeg, Manitoba. He proceeded on the 1st September 1941 to No. 7 Bombing and Gunnery School, Paulson, Manitoba where on the 29th September he was awarded his air gunners badge and promoted to the rank of Sergeant. On the 6th October 1941 he proceeded to No .1 "M" Depot, Debert, Nova Scotia to await embarkation for the United Kingdom.

Sergeant Hegan arrived at No. 3 Personnel Reception Centre, Bournemouth on the 24th October 1941 and was posted on the 3rd December 1941 to No. 1 Signals School and thence on the 25th March 1942 to No. 11 Operational Training Unit, Bassingbourn, Hertfordshire, where he crewed-up and completed his training on Wellington bomber aircraft. On the 14th June 1942 he was posted to No. 75 (N.Z.) Squadron, Feltwell, Norfolk. With this squadron as wireless operator air gunner of a Wellington bomber aircraft he took part in seven operational flights.

Sergenat Hegan was a member of the crew of a Wellington bomber which took off on air operations on the night of the 29/30th June 1942 to attack a target in enemy occupied Europe. The aircraft failed to return to its base and all the crew including Sergeant Hegan was classified as missing. Later information was received from a German source through the International Red Cross that Sergeant Hegan had been killed and he was in consequence reclassified as missing believed killed in action. In due course his death was officially presumed to have occurred on the 30th June, 1942 as the result of air operations. Information was subsequently received that he had been buried in the cemetery at Holward, Friesland, Holland.