The Airmen's Stories - P/O A L Hedges

Alan Lindsay Hedges was born on 17th June 1916 in Abingdon, Oxfordshire and was educated at Lord Williams School in Thame, also Oxfordshire. He joined the RAFVR about July 1937 as an Airman u/t Pilot.

Called up on 1st September 1939, he completed his training at 9 FTS Hullavington on No. 12 Course, which ran from 7th October to 24th December 1939 for advanced training.

In December 1939 he married Joan Yvonne Knight (1917–2011) in Oxford (below).

Above: 245 Squadron at Hawkinge 1940.

P/O D S Yapp, P/O D J Spence, P/O G E Hill, P/O G Marsland, P/O A L Hedges, P/O J Redman, P/O K B McGlashan, P/O W T Eiby.

P/O J S Southwell, F/Lt. J A Thomson, P/O D Whitley, Sgt. R I Mowat, P/O G L Howitt.

P/O D A Pennington, Sgt. R W E Jarrett, P/O R I Chaffe.

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He joined 3 B&GS on 5th January 1940 for meteorological duties. Hedges went to 245 Squadron at Drem on 21st May 1940.

He was posted to 257 Squadron at Martlesham Heath on 10th September. He claimed a share in the destruction of a Do17 and also damaged a He111 on the 15th.

Hedges was posted away to 55 OTU Aston Down on 24th December 1940.

His subsequent service is currently undocumented until he was released from the RAF in 1945.

Hedges died in March 1998 in Bullingdon, Oxfordshire and is buried in Great Haseley, Oxfordshire.

Additional research and images courtesy of the Hedges family.