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411508: SQUADRON LEADER JOHN ALFRED HEGMAN D.S.O. D.F.C.
Sister: MRS. L.C. FOSTER OF WAIMAUKA.

John Hegman was born at Auckland on the 23rd June, 1916 and received his secondary education at Auckland Grammar School, where he passed the Matriculation and Engineering Preliminary examinations. The sports in which he took an active interest included football, yachting and tennis and at school was a member of the 1st XV. Prior to entering the services he was employed as a valuer by the Government Valuation Department. At the time of applying - on the 13th February 1941 - for service with the Royal New Zealand Air Force, he had served for 3 months with the 10th Battery, 9th Heavy Regiment, North Head, Auckland.

Squadron Leader Hegman was enlisted at the Initial Training Wing, Levin on the 2nd March 1941 and mustered as an airman pilot under training. On the satisfactory completion of the initial course he was posted on the 13th April to No. 4 Elementary Flying Training School, Whenuapai, where he commence his flying training on Tiger Moth aircraft. At the end of May he was granted embarkation leave and on the 18th of the following month sailed for Canada to continue training under the Empire Air Training Scheme.

On arrival in Canada on the 6th July 1941 Squadron Leader Hegman was posted to No. 10 Service Flying Training School, Dauphin, Manitoba where he continued his training on Harvard aircraft. Whilst at this school, on the 25th September 1941 he was awarded the Flying Badge and promoted to Sergeant. This however, was superseded by his commissioning in the rank of Pilot Officer with effect from the same date. On the 25th September, 1942 he was promoted to Flying Officer and on the 25th December 1942 reached the rank of Flight Lieutenant. He was made a Squadron Leader on the 14th December 1943. Meanwhile, early in October 1941 he proceeded from Dauphin to No. 1 "Y" Depot, Halifax, Nova Scotia for emarkation for the United Kingdom for service in with the Royal Air Force.

Squadron Leader Hegman arrived at No. 3 Personnel Reception Centre, Bournemouth, Hampshire on the 19th October 1941 and on the 10th of the following month proceeded to No. 1515 Beam Approach Training