LEST WE FORGET
Flying Officer Dermot John HEGARTY DFC
Service No: 420561
Born: Marrickville NSW, 13 November 1920
Enlisted in the RAAF: 8 November 1941
Unit: No. 83 Squadron (RAF), RAF Station Coningsby
Awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC), 13 October 1944
Died: Aircraft Accident (No. 83 Squadron Lancaster aircraft ND464), near Coningsby, 16 July 1944, Aged 23 Years
Buried: Cambridge City Cemetery, Cambridgeshire
CWGC Additional Information: Son of James and Margaret Teresa Hegarty, of Pymble, New South Wales, Australia
Roll of Honour: Cassilis NSW
Remembered: Panel 123, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Remembered: Ku-ring-gai World War II Book of Remembrance, Gordon NSW
DFC Citation: Flying Officer Hegarty is an extremely capable and courageous captain of aircraft who has completed many successful operations. One night in June 1944 while on the outward flight to attack an important target in the Ruhr, the aircraft was attacked by an ME110 and severe damage was sustained to the electrical equipment and bombing gear. By skilful evasion tactics and coolness, Flying Officer Hegarty saved the aircraft from destruction. Continuing to the target, the aircraft was twice hit in the fuselage by anti-aircraft fire and on leaving the target, again suffered damage from the ground defences. Shortly after this, an ME110 attacked and on this occasion the navigator and wireless operator were wounded and further extensive damage sustained by the aircraft. Again, Flying Officer Hegarty’s skilful pilotage enabled him to avoid destruction and by his determination and zealous application, eventually flew the aircraft back to the United Kingdom.
(London Gazette 13 October 1944, Page 4694)
On 16 July 1944 Lancaster ND464 took off from Coningsby on a night bombing training exercise. The aircraft was partially abandoned at 2348 hours following total engine failure during the exercise. Three of the crew members were killed.
The crew members of ND464 were:
Warrant Officer Michael Govier Cross (1314932) (RAFVR) (Rear Gunner)
Flight Lieutenant Galbraith (40358) (RNZAF) (Nav/B) Baled out, uninjured
Flying Officer R Hay (132033) (RAFVR) (Mid Gunner) Baled out, uninjured
Flying Officer Dermot John Hegarty DFC (420561) (Pilot)
Flying Officer Kenneth Edward Ewen Sillitoe (155368) (RAFVR) (Wireless Operator Air)
Sergeant W A Smith (1605474) (RAFVR) (Flight Engineer) Baled out, uninjured
References:
Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour On-Line Records (RAAF Casualty Information compiled by Alan Storr (409804))
Commonwealth War Graves Commission On-Line Records
Department of Veterans’ Affairs On-Line WWII Nominal Roll
National Archives of Australia On-Line Record A705, 166/17/667
Register of War Memorials in New South Wales On-Line