September was also busy, and Hesselyn destroyed his first aircraft of the month on 4 September, shooting down a Bf 109. Later in the month he was promoted to flight lieutenant and then went on leave, returning to operations on 24 September when he led one of the squadron's flights on a mission escorting North American B-25 Mitchell medium bombers attacking railway infrastructure at Amiens. Three days later, while providing cover for Martin B-26 Marauders bombing Beauvais, Hesselyn shot down a Fw 190.
