Paterson Clarence Hughes
Encyclopedia
Flight Lieutenant
Paterson Clarence Hughes DFC
(19 September 1917 – 7 September 1940) was a Royal Australian Air Force
fighter pilot
, assigned to the Royal Air Force
during the Battle of Britain
in World War II
.
The top-scoring Australian flying ace
of the Battle of Britain and one of the 24 Australians who lost their lives during the battle, Hughes has been described as the "real driving force behind No. 234 Squadron RAF
."
, New South Wales
, Australia
, on 19 September 1917. Pat was educated at Cooma Public School, and after the family moved to the Haberfield
suburb of Sydney
when he was 12 he attended the Petersham Boys’ School, and then Fort Street High School
until aged 17.
and Royal Australian Air Force
. While undergoing the application process and awaiting the outcomes, Hughes worked at Saunders' Jewellers in Sydney. Accepted for both services, he choose to train as a pilot with the RAAF at RAAF Point Cook, based in a suburb of Melbourne
, Victoria
—during which, as an accomplished photographer, he took many photographs of base life. Hughes was trained to fly in de Havilland Gipsy Moths, Avro Cadet
s, and then onto Westland Wapiti
s, Hawker Demons as well as with Supermarine Seagull V
. After graduation, he applied and was selected with a number of others to transfer to the Royal Air Force
under a special Short Service Commission Scheme, sailing for England
on 9 January 1937.
at RAF Church Fenton
when World War II
began in September 1939.
On November 6, Hughes was promoted to acting Flight Lieutenant
within the newly formed No. 234 Squadron
at RAF Leconfield
alongside Bob Doe
, and it was in the local town of Beverley
in February 1940 that Hughes met Kathleen Brodrick of Kingston upon Hull
in the Beverley Arms Hotel. No. 234 had originally been equipped on formation with Fairey Battle
s, Bristol Blenheim
s and Gloster Gauntlet
s, but retrained in March 1940 with Supermarine Spitfire
s. After helping to set up No.247 (China British) Squadron
at Roborough
, Plymouth
he rejoined No. 234 squadron as it was transferred to RAF St Eval
in Cornwall
in June 1940, and on 1 August Hughes married Kay (Kathleen Agnes Brodrick) in the local registry office.
began in July 1940, and Hughes was credited with the first confirmed kill for the squadron with the shooting down of a Junkers Ju 88
near Lands End on 8 July, and a half on 28 July.
The duties of No. 234 included providing air cover for No. 10 Squadron RAAF
's base at RAF Mount Batten
in Plymouth
, who flew long distance missions over the Atlantic Ocean
and into the Mediterranean Sea
. As a result, in August No. 234 transferred to RAF Middle Wallop in Hampshire
. It was during this next three week period, using the aggressive tactic deployed by other great aces of getting in close to achieve a kill and which may ultimately have led to his death, that Hughes became recognised as the driving force behind the achievements of No. 234 Squadron.
Starting on 15 August, in one of the most costly engagements of the Battle of Britain, Hughes claimed a double victory over two Messerschmitt Me 110s. His double success continued on the 18 and 26 August, making him a fighter ace
and for which he was awarded his Distinguished Flying Cross
. He claimed more doubles on 4, 5 and 6 September; bringing his official tally to 13 and two half victories.
s and escorting Messerschmitt Bf 109
s. Hughes was leading his Section in Spitfire X4009 and dived to attack the bombers. The official RAF report states that after Hughes attacked a Do 17 from close range, a large section of the bomber broke away and appeared to hit Hughes' Spitfire, which crashed into Darks Farm in the village of Bessels Green
, Kent
. Hughes exited the aircraft, but his parachute
failed to open, and his body was found in the garden of a house in the nearby village of Sundridge. The official record shows that Hughes died around 18.30 hrs. It should also be noted that in the same action, the Squadron Leader
of No. 234 O’Brien also died.
Franz von Werra
, the famous "One That Got Away" Axis PoW. Originally credited fully to Basil Gerald 'Stapme' Stapleton
who finished von Werra's Bf 109 off, Hughes final DFC citation awarded him a half credit in the London Gazette
of 22 October 1940. After escaping from British POW camps several times, von Werra was shipped off to Canada
. After escaping from a moving train at night, he crossed the frozen St Lawrence River in a stolen rowing boat to freedom in the then neutral United States
. Repatriated to Germany, von Werra fought in Russia
during Operation Barbarossa
, returning to Holland
with Jagdgeschwader 53
he disappeared while on a routine patrol north of Vlissingen
on 25 October 1941, probably due to engine failure.
after only five weeks of marriage, Kay decided to bury her husband in her local parish church. After a service at St James', Sutton-on-Hull
, on 13 September 1940, Hughes was buried with full military honors in the churchyard. His marble grave stone does not show his nationality, but like the majority killed during World War II that he was a serving pilot in the RAF. The grave was tended by the local sub-branch of the Spitfire Society, and is now cared for by a local couple. Hughes DFC and other service medals are held in the collection of the Australian War Memorial
, in Canberra
.
In Australia, Hughes is commemorated at Christ's Church, Kiama, with a memorial tablet placed by his sister Muriel Tongue, which reads: "This panel is dedicated to the memory of F/Lt P C Hughes DFC killed in action Battle of Britain 7 September 1940. Aged 23." A special memorial depicting his aircraft and the area of his major operations, was unveiled and dedicated at Monaghan Hayes Place, Cooma, on 26 March 1998, in the presence of members of the Spitfire Association.
In England, on the 65th anniversary of Hughes death, brothers Desmond and Tony Hall unveiled a plaque on the wall of the bungalow where Hughes body fell. The brothers father, who watched Hughes last dog fight, was always adamant that Hughes purposefully rammed the Dornier in order to bring it down. With the assistance of The Battle of Britain Historical Society and in a service attended by 70 people, the local vicar Reverend David Attwood gave a prayer and reading. Followed by The Last Post, a minutes silence was ended by the playing of Reveille
, which resulted in the unveiling of the plaque, and the laying of a wreath. After a flypast by a Percival Proctor
from a local flying club, a reception was held at Shoreham Aircraft Museum
.
Flight Lieutenant
Flight lieutenant is a junior commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many Commonwealth countries. It ranks above flying officer and immediately below squadron leader. The name of the rank is the complete phrase; it is never shortened to "lieutenant"...
Paterson Clarence Hughes DFC
Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)
The Distinguished Flying Cross is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force and other services, and formerly to officers of other Commonwealth countries, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active operations against...
(19 September 1917 – 7 September 1940) was a Royal Australian Air Force
Royal Australian Air Force
The Royal Australian Air Force is the air force branch of the Australian Defence Force. The RAAF was formed in March 1921. It continues the traditions of the Australian Flying Corps , which was formed on 22 October 1912. The RAAF has taken part in many of the 20th century's major conflicts...
fighter pilot
Fighter pilot
A fighter pilot is a military aviator trained in air-to-air combat while piloting a fighter aircraft . Fighter pilots undergo specialized training in aerial warfare and dogfighting...
, assigned to the Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
during the Battle of Britain
Battle of Britain
The Battle of Britain is the name given to the World War II air campaign waged by the German Air Force against the United Kingdom during the summer and autumn of 1940...
in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
The top-scoring Australian flying ace
Flying ace
A flying ace or fighter ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down several enemy aircraft during aerial combat. The actual number of aerial victories required to officially qualify as an "ace" has varied, but is usually considered to be five or more...
of the Battle of Britain and one of the 24 Australians who lost their lives during the battle, Hughes has been described as the "real driving force behind No. 234 Squadron RAF
No. 234 Squadron RAF
No. 234 Squadron RAF had a long career within the RAF, being operational on flying boats in World War I and on fighter aircraft in World War II. After the war it remained a fighter unit till 1957. In its last incarnation the squadron was in turn Operational Training Unit , Tactical Weapon Unit and...
."
Biography
The son of a school teacher, also called Paterson Clarence Hughes and his wife Caroline Vennel, Pat was the youngest child of a family of five boys and seven girls, born in CoomaCooma, New South Wales
-Education: is Cooma's only public high school, it serves the town and seven of the neighbouring rural towns and villages such as Berridale, Jindabyne, Nimmitabel, Bredbo and Dalgety....
, New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, on 19 September 1917. Pat was educated at Cooma Public School, and after the family moved to the Haberfield
Haberfield, New South Wales
Haberfield is a suburb in the inner-west of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Haberfield is located 9 kilometres west of the Sydney central business district in the local government area of the Municipality of Ashfield....
suburb of Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
when he was 12 he attended the Petersham Boys’ School, and then Fort Street High School
Fort Street High School
Fort Street High School is a co-educational, academically selective, public high school currently located at Petersham, an inner western suburb of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia....
until aged 17.
RAAF
Hughes wanted a career in the military, and applied for both the Royal Australian NavyRoyal Australian Navy
The Royal Australian Navy is the naval branch of the Australian Defence Force. Following the Federation of Australia in 1901, the ships and resources of the separate colonial navies were integrated into a national force: the Commonwealth Naval Forces...
and Royal Australian Air Force
Royal Australian Air Force
The Royal Australian Air Force is the air force branch of the Australian Defence Force. The RAAF was formed in March 1921. It continues the traditions of the Australian Flying Corps , which was formed on 22 October 1912. The RAAF has taken part in many of the 20th century's major conflicts...
. While undergoing the application process and awaiting the outcomes, Hughes worked at Saunders' Jewellers in Sydney. Accepted for both services, he choose to train as a pilot with the RAAF at RAAF Point Cook, based in a suburb of Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
—during which, as an accomplished photographer, he took many photographs of base life. Hughes was trained to fly in de Havilland Gipsy Moths, Avro Cadet
Avro Cadet
|-See also:-External links:**...
s, and then onto Westland Wapiti
Westland Wapiti
The Westland Wapiti was a British two-seat general purpose military single-engined biplane of the 1920s. It was designed and built by Westland Aircraft Works to replace the Airco DH.9A in Royal Air Force service....
s, Hawker Demons as well as with Supermarine Seagull V
Supermarine Seagull (1921)
|-Specifications :-See also:-Bibliography:* Andrews, C.F. and Morgan, E.B. Supermarine Aircraft Since 1914. London: Putnam Books Ltd., 2nd revised edition 2003. ISBN 0-851-77800-3....
. After graduation, he applied and was selected with a number of others to transfer to the Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
under a special Short Service Commission Scheme, sailing for England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
on 9 January 1937.
RAF
Always a proud Australian, Hughes always wore the slightly darker blue uniform of the RAAF throughout his service with the RAF, but with RAF insignia. After two years training as a fighter pilot he was a member of No. 64 Squadron RAFNo. 64 Squadron RAF
No. 64 Squadron was a squadron of the Royal Air Force. It was first formed on 1 August 1916 as a squadron of the Royal Flying Corps. It was last disbanded on 31 January 1991 at RAF Leuchars.- 1916 to 1919 :...
at RAF Church Fenton
RAF Church Fenton
RAF Church Fenton is a Royal Air Force airfield at Church Fenton in North Yorkshire, England.- History :Plans for a new airfield adjacent to the village of Church Fenton were announced in June 1935, it was subject to protest from the local population particularly concerning the waste of valuable...
when World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
began in September 1939.
On November 6, Hughes was promoted to acting Flight Lieutenant
Flight Lieutenant
Flight lieutenant is a junior commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many Commonwealth countries. It ranks above flying officer and immediately below squadron leader. The name of the rank is the complete phrase; it is never shortened to "lieutenant"...
within the newly formed No. 234 Squadron
No. 234 Squadron RAF
No. 234 Squadron RAF had a long career within the RAF, being operational on flying boats in World War I and on fighter aircraft in World War II. After the war it remained a fighter unit till 1957. In its last incarnation the squadron was in turn Operational Training Unit , Tactical Weapon Unit and...
at RAF Leconfield
RAF Leconfield
The former RAF Leconfield, or 'Leconfield Camp' was a Royal Air Force airbase in Leconfield , East Riding of Yorkshire, England. The site is now used by the MoD Defence School of Transport Leconfield .-History:...
alongside Bob Doe
Bob Doe
Wing Commander Robert Francis Thomas "Bob" Doe DSO, DFC & Bar was a flying ace of the Royal Air Force during the Battle of Britain in the Second World War, and served with honour with the Indian Air Force during the Burma campaign.-Early life:Robert Francis Thomas Doe was born in Reigate, Surrey,...
, and it was in the local town of Beverley
Beverley
Beverley is a market town, civil parish and the county town of the East Riding of Yorkshire, England, located between the River Hull and the Westwood. The town is noted for Beverley Minster and architecturally-significant religious buildings along New Walk and other areas, as well as the Beverley...
in February 1940 that Hughes met Kathleen Brodrick of Kingston upon Hull
Kingston upon Hull
Kingston upon Hull , usually referred to as Hull, is a city and unitary authority area in the ceremonial county of the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It stands on the River Hull at its junction with the Humber estuary, 25 miles inland from the North Sea. Hull has a resident population of...
in the Beverley Arms Hotel. No. 234 had originally been equipped on formation with Fairey Battle
Fairey Battle
The Fairey Battle was a British single-engine light bomber built by the Fairey Aviation Company in the late 1930s for the Royal Air Force. The Battle was powered by the same Rolls-Royce Merlin piston engine that gave contemporary British fighters high performance; however, the Battle was weighed...
s, Bristol Blenheim
Bristol Blenheim
The Bristol Blenheim was a British light bomber aircraft designed and built by the Bristol Aeroplane Company that was used extensively in the early days of the Second World War. It was adapted as an interim long-range and night fighter, pending the availability of the Beaufighter...
s and Gloster Gauntlet
Gloster Gauntlet
-See also:-References:NotesBibliography* Crawford, Alex. Bristol Bulldog, Gloster Gauntlet. Redbourn, UK: Mushroom Model Publications, 2005. ISBN 83-89450-04-6....
s, but retrained in March 1940 with Supermarine Spitfire
Supermarine Spitfire
The Supermarine Spitfire is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was used by the Royal Air Force and many other Allied countries throughout the Second World War. The Spitfire continued to be used as a front line fighter and in secondary roles into the 1950s...
s. After helping to set up No.247 (China British) Squadron
No. 247 Squadron RAF
No. 247 Squadron was formerly a squadron of the Royal Air Force. It was also known as No.247 Squadron in recognition of the donations made by the British colonies, which at the outbreak of the Second World War, were established on the Chinese coast...
at Roborough
Roborough
Roborough is a village in the South Hams of Devon, England. It lies just outside the northern boundary of the city of Plymouth on the main road to Tavistock, and is a popular dormitory village....
, Plymouth
Plymouth
Plymouth is a city and unitary authority area on the coast of Devon, England, about south-west of London. It is built between the mouths of the rivers Plym to the east and Tamar to the west, where they join Plymouth Sound...
he rejoined No. 234 squadron as it was transferred to RAF St Eval
RAF St Eval
RAF St Eval was a strategic airbase for the RAF Coastal Command in the Second World War . St Eval's primary role was to provided anti-submarine and anti-shipping patrols off the south west coast of England...
in Cornwall
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
in June 1940, and on 1 August Hughes married Kay (Kathleen Agnes Brodrick) in the local registry office.
Battle of Britain
The Battle of BritainBattle of Britain
The Battle of Britain is the name given to the World War II air campaign waged by the German Air Force against the United Kingdom during the summer and autumn of 1940...
began in July 1940, and Hughes was credited with the first confirmed kill for the squadron with the shooting down of a Junkers Ju 88
Junkers Ju 88
The Junkers Ju 88 was a World War II German Luftwaffe twin-engine, multi-role aircraft. Designed by Hugo Junkers' company through the services of two American aviation engineers in the mid-1930s, it suffered from a number of technical problems during the later stages of its development and early...
near Lands End on 8 July, and a half on 28 July.
The duties of No. 234 included providing air cover for No. 10 Squadron RAAF
No. 10 Squadron RAAF
No. 10 Squadron is a Royal Australian Air Force maritime patrol squadron based at RAAF Base Edinburgh. The Squadron was first formed in 1939 and has seen active service in World War II, East Timor, the War on Terrorism and the 2003 Gulf War.-Second World War:...
's base at RAF Mount Batten
RAF Mount Batten
RAF Mount Batten was a Royal Air Force station and flying boat base at Mount Batten, a peninsula in Plymouth Sound, Devon. England. Originally a seaplane station opened in 1917 as a Royal Navy Air Service Station Cattewater it became RAF Cattewater in 1918 and in 1928 was re-named RAF Mount Batten...
in Plymouth
Plymouth
Plymouth is a city and unitary authority area on the coast of Devon, England, about south-west of London. It is built between the mouths of the rivers Plym to the east and Tamar to the west, where they join Plymouth Sound...
, who flew long distance missions over the Atlantic Ocean
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
and into the Mediterranean Sea
Mediterranean Sea
The Mediterranean Sea is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean surrounded by the Mediterranean region and almost completely enclosed by land: on the north by Anatolia and Europe, on the south by North Africa, and on the east by the Levant...
. As a result, in August No. 234 transferred to RAF Middle Wallop in Hampshire
Hampshire
Hampshire is a county on the southern coast of England in the United Kingdom. The county town of Hampshire is Winchester, a historic cathedral city that was once the capital of England. Hampshire is notable for housing the original birthplaces of the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force...
. It was during this next three week period, using the aggressive tactic deployed by other great aces of getting in close to achieve a kill and which may ultimately have led to his death, that Hughes became recognised as the driving force behind the achievements of No. 234 Squadron.
Starting on 15 August, in one of the most costly engagements of the Battle of Britain, Hughes claimed a double victory over two Messerschmitt Me 110s. His double success continued on the 18 and 26 August, making him a fighter ace
Fighter Ace
Fighter Ace was a massively multiplayer online computer game in which one flies World War II fighter and bomber planes in combat against other players and virtual pilots...
and for which he was awarded his Distinguished Flying Cross
Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)
The Distinguished Flying Cross is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force and other services, and formerly to officers of other Commonwealth countries, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active operations against...
. He claimed more doubles on 4, 5 and 6 September; bringing his official tally to 13 and two half victories.
7 September
In early evening of 7 September, No. 234 ran into a force of 60 German aircraft consisting of Dornier Do 17Dornier Do 17
The Dornier Do 17, sometimes referred to as the Fliegender Bleistift , was a World War II German light bomber produced by Claudius Dornier's company, Dornier Flugzeugwerke...
s and escorting Messerschmitt Bf 109
Messerschmitt Bf 109
The Messerschmitt Bf 109, often called Me 109, was a German World War II fighter aircraft designed by Willy Messerschmitt and Robert Lusser during the early to mid 1930s...
s. Hughes was leading his Section in Spitfire X4009 and dived to attack the bombers. The official RAF report states that after Hughes attacked a Do 17 from close range, a large section of the bomber broke away and appeared to hit Hughes' Spitfire, which crashed into Darks Farm in the village of Bessels Green
Bessels Green
Bessels Green is a village now incorporated into the built-up area of Sevenoaks in Kent, England. It is on the north-western outskirts of Sevenoaks, in the parish of Chevening. The A25 road runs through the centre of the village....
, Kent
Kent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
. Hughes exited the aircraft, but his parachute
Parachute
A parachute is a device used to slow the motion of an object through an atmosphere by creating drag, or in the case of ram-air parachutes, aerodynamic lift. Parachutes are usually made out of light, strong cloth, originally silk, now most commonly nylon...
failed to open, and his body was found in the garden of a house in the nearby village of Sundridge. The official record shows that Hughes died around 18.30 hrs. It should also be noted that in the same action, the Squadron Leader
Squadron Leader
Squadron Leader is a commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence. It is also sometimes used as the English translation of an equivalent rank in countries which have a non-English air force-specific rank structure. In these...
of No. 234 O’Brien also died.
Franz von Werra
At this point, Hughes official record showed 14 victories, and two half victories, but posthumously he was awarded another half victory for the shooting down of OberleutnantOberleutnant
Oberleutnant is a junior officer rank in the militaries of Germany, Switzerland and Austria. In the German Army, it dates from the early 19th century. Translated as "Senior Lieutenant", the rank is typically bestowed upon commissioned officers after five to six years of active duty...
Franz von Werra
Franz von Werra
Franz Xaver Baron von Werra was a German World War II fighter pilot and flying ace who was shot down over England and captured...
, the famous "One That Got Away" Axis PoW. Originally credited fully to Basil Gerald 'Stapme' Stapleton
Gerald Stapleton
Squadron Leader Basil Gerald "Stapme" Stapleton DFC was a Royal Air Force officer and fighter ace who flew Spitfires and Typhoons during World War II. He preferred the name Gerald and was nicknamed 'Stapme' after a phrase used in his favourite cartoon strip Just Jake published in The Daily Mirror...
who finished von Werra's Bf 109 off, Hughes final DFC citation awarded him a half credit in the London Gazette
London Gazette
The London Gazette is one of the official journals of record of the British government, and the most important among such official journals in the United Kingdom, in which certain statutory notices are required to be published...
of 22 October 1940. After escaping from British POW camps several times, von Werra was shipped off to Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. After escaping from a moving train at night, he crossed the frozen St Lawrence River in a stolen rowing boat to freedom in the then neutral United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Repatriated to Germany, von Werra fought in Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
during Operation Barbarossa
Operation Barbarossa
Operation Barbarossa was the code name for Germany's invasion of the Soviet Union during World War II that began on 22 June 1941. Over 4.5 million troops of the Axis powers invaded the USSR along a front., the largest invasion in the history of warfare...
, returning to Holland
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
with Jagdgeschwader 53
Jagdgeschwader 53
Jagdgeschwader 53 Pik-As was a Luftwaffe fighter-wing of World War II. It operated in Western Europe and in the Mediterranean.Jagdgeschwader 53 - or as it was better known, the "Pik As" Geschwader - was one of the oldest German fighter units of World War II with its origins going back to 1937...
he disappeared while on a routine patrol north of Vlissingen
Flushing, Netherlands
Vlissingen is a municipality and a city in the southwestern Netherlands on the former island of Walcheren. With its strategic location between the Scheldt river and the North Sea, Vlissingen has been an important harbour for centuries. It was granted city rights in 1315. In the 17th century...
on 25 October 1941, probably due to engine failure.
Memorial
A war widowWidow
A widow is a woman whose spouse has died, while a widower is a man whose spouse has died. The state of having lost one's spouse to death is termed widowhood or occasionally viduity. The adjective form is widowed...
after only five weeks of marriage, Kay decided to bury her husband in her local parish church. After a service at St James', Sutton-on-Hull
Sutton-on-Hull
Sutton-on-Hull is a suburb of the city of Kingston upon Hull, in the ceremonial county of the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It was served by Sutton-on-Hull railway station on the Hull and Holderness Railway until 1964.-External links:*...
, on 13 September 1940, Hughes was buried with full military honors in the churchyard. His marble grave stone does not show his nationality, but like the majority killed during World War II that he was a serving pilot in the RAF. The grave was tended by the local sub-branch of the Spitfire Society, and is now cared for by a local couple. Hughes DFC and other service medals are held in the collection of the Australian War Memorial
Australian War Memorial
The Australian War Memorial is Australia's national memorial to the members of all its armed forces and supporting organisations who have died or participated in the wars of the Commonwealth of Australia...
, in Canberra
Canberra
Canberra is the capital city of Australia. With a population of over 345,000, it is Australia's largest inland city and the eighth-largest city overall. The city is located at the northern end of the Australian Capital Territory , south-west of Sydney, and north-east of Melbourne...
.
In Australia, Hughes is commemorated at Christ's Church, Kiama, with a memorial tablet placed by his sister Muriel Tongue, which reads: "This panel is dedicated to the memory of F/Lt P C Hughes DFC killed in action Battle of Britain 7 September 1940. Aged 23." A special memorial depicting his aircraft and the area of his major operations, was unveiled and dedicated at Monaghan Hayes Place, Cooma, on 26 March 1998, in the presence of members of the Spitfire Association.
In England, on the 65th anniversary of Hughes death, brothers Desmond and Tony Hall unveiled a plaque on the wall of the bungalow where Hughes body fell. The brothers father, who watched Hughes last dog fight, was always adamant that Hughes purposefully rammed the Dornier in order to bring it down. With the assistance of The Battle of Britain Historical Society and in a service attended by 70 people, the local vicar Reverend David Attwood gave a prayer and reading. Followed by The Last Post, a minutes silence was ended by the playing of Reveille
Reveille
"Reveille" is a bugle call, trumpet call or pipes call most often associated with the military or summer camp; it is chiefly used to wake military personnel at sunrise...
, which resulted in the unveiling of the plaque, and the laying of a wreath. After a flypast by a Percival Proctor
Percival Proctor
The Percival Proctor was a British radio trainer and communications aircraft of the Second World War. The Proctor was a single-engine, low-wing monoplane with seating for three or four, depending on the model.-Design and development:...
from a local flying club, a reception was held at Shoreham Aircraft Museum
Shoreham Airport
- Sussex Police Air Operations Unit :The Sussex Police Air Operations Unit is headquartered at Shoreham Airport. The unit has been equipped since February 2000 with a MD Explorer, registered as "G-SUSX". The unit is headed by a Police Inspector, assisted by a Police Sergeant and two Police...
.
Combat Record
NOTE: this table is not complete in numbers or detail, but if you can add to it or simply confirm types, please do so - Thank You!| Date | Service | Flying | Kills | Probables | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 July 1940 | Royal Air Force Royal Air Force The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world... |
Spitfire Supermarine Spitfire The Supermarine Spitfire is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was used by the Royal Air Force and many other Allied countries throughout the Second World War. The Spitfire continued to be used as a front line fighter and in secondary roles into the 1950s... |
1 * Junkers Ju 88 Junkers Ju 88 The Junkers Ju 88 was a World War II German Luftwaffe twin-engine, multi-role aircraft. Designed by Hugo Junkers' company through the services of two American aviation engineers in the mid-1930s, it suffered from a number of technical problems during the later stages of its development and early... |
flying from RAF St Eval RAF St Eval RAF St Eval was a strategic airbase for the RAF Coastal Command in the Second World War . St Eval's primary role was to provided anti-submarine and anti-shipping patrols off the south west coast of England... |
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| 28 July 1940 | Royal Air Force | Spitfire | 1/2 * Junkers Ju 88 | ||
| 15 August 1940 | Royal Air Force | Spitfire | 2 * Messerschmitt Me 110 | flying from RAF Middle Wallop | |
| 18 August 1940 | Royal Air Force | Spitfire | 2 * unknown | ||
| 26 August 1940 | Royal Air Force | Spitfire | 2 * unknown | ||
| 4 September 1940 | Royal Air Force | Spitfire | 2 * unknown | ||
| 5 September 1940 | Royal Air Force | Spitfire | 2 * unknown1/2 * Messerschmitt Bf 109 Messerschmitt Bf 109 The Messerschmitt Bf 109, often called Me 109, was a German World War II fighter aircraft designed by Willy Messerschmitt and Robert Lusser during the early to mid 1930s... |
1/2 claim was posthumous acknowledgement in shooting down of Obr Lt Franz von Werra Franz von Werra Franz Xaver Baron von Werra was a German World War II fighter pilot and flying ace who was shot down over England and captured... |
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| 6 September 1940 | Royal Air Force | Spitfire | 2 * Messerschmitt Bf 109 | ||
| 7 September 1940 | Royal Air Force Royal Air Force The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world... |
Spitfire | 1 * Dornier Do 17 Dornier Do 17 The Dornier Do 17, sometimes referred to as the Fliegender Bleistift , was a World War II German light bomber produced by Claudius Dornier's company, Dornier Flugzeugwerke... |
KiA over Kent, when piece of bomber hits his aeroplane. Body found Sundridge, Kent Sundridge, Kent Sundridge is a village within the civil parish of Sundridge with Ide Hill, in the Sevenoaks District of Kent, England. The village is located on the A25 road to the east of WesterhamIts church is dedicated to St Mary.... after parachute fails to open |
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| TOTALS | 14 + 3 * 1/2 kills | 0 probable | |||