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404363 Pilot Officer William Upton HEWETT.
Brother: Mr. B.S. Hewett of Roto-o-Rangi.

William Hewett was born at Palmerston North on the 29th August, 1912, and received his secondary education at Wanganui Collegiate School. His sports were tennis, and golf, and in 1937 he was the Senior Champion of the Cambridge Golf Club. After leaving school he took up farming on his own account at Roto-o-Rangi and in October, 1939, he applied for aircrew service in the Royal New Zealand Air Force.

Pilot Officer Hewett was enlisted on the 24th November, 1940, in the Initial Training Wing, Levin, and after completing a period of ground training, was posted to No. 4 Elementary Flying Training School, Whenuapai. Here he began training as an airman pilot, and on the 27th February, 1941, he embarked at Auckland, in the "Awatea", and sailed for Canada to continue his training under the Empire Air Training Scheme.

On reaching Canada, he reported first to No. 6 Service Flying Training School, Dunnville, Ontario, where he continued with more advanced training. During May, however, his pilot training was terminated, and he was posted to Trenton, Ontario, where he remustered to Observer. He remained here until the 8th July, being then posted to No. 4 Air Observer School, at London, also in Ontario. At the end of September he proceeded to No. 1 Bombing and Gunnery School, Jarvis, Ontario, and while here was awarded the Air Observer's Badge on the 8th November. On the same day he was also promoted to Sergeant and later, on the 9th December, was granted a commission in the rank of Pilot Officer. Meanwhile, on the 10th November, he had been posted to No. 2 Air Navigation School, Pennfield Ridge, New Brunswick, where he was given a course of advanced navigation. On the 15th December he proceeded to No. 1 "Y" Depot, Halifax, Nova Scotia to await embarkation to the United Kingdom.

Pilot Officer Hewett was a passenger on the S.S. "Ingaren" which sailed from Halifax en route for the United Kingdom. The vessel failed to reach its destination and Pilot Officer Hewett was reported missing believed drowned.