On the 7th September 1940, Flt/Lt Pat Hughes an Australian serving as a Flight Commander with No 234 Sqn. was one of a number of pilots who in turn attacked a Dornier 17Z of Stab KG76 which was undertaking a photo-recconaisance sortie over the London Docks.
No one knows for certain what happened during Pat’s attack on the Dornier. The official line is that his Spitfire was damaged by a piece from the Dornier, some books state that the Dornier went out of control & collided with Pat. Eyewitnesses give a different account, including a Mr Hall, who say that Pat deliberatly rammed the Dornier to bring it down.
Whatever the truth, the result was the same, Pat fell to his death from his Spitfire, his body falling in the garden of a bungalow in Sundridge, Kent. His bride of just five weeks was now a widow.
Today, on the 65th Anniversary of Pat’s death, brothers Desmond and Tony Hall, whose father witnessed Pat’s final combat, realised a long held dream, when with the assistance of The Battle of Britain Historical Society, they unveiled a plaque in Pat’s memory on a wall of the bungalow in whose garden he had fallen.
Just over seventy people, locals and members of the BoBHS etc. crowded into that same garden to attend a short service of commemoration, and see the unveiling of the plaque.
Gerry Burke, who had handled the BoBHS side of todays event spoke of Pat & the day that was the 7th September 1940, before handing over to the Reverend David Attwood, of the local parish, who gave a prayer and reading. This was most movingly followed by ‘The Last Post’. A minutes silence was ended by the playing of ‘Reveille’, to be followed by the unveiling of the plaque, and the laying of a wreath.
The final act was a flypast by a Percival Proctor and Mew Gull from a local flying club (and before you ask – no I don’t know which two they were)
Afterwards, a reception was held at The Shoreham Aircraft Museum nearby.
Thanks go to all who were involved in bringing about a small, but very touching, act of rememberance, and of course to the owners of the bungalow for allowing the placing of the plaque.
Geoff.
Image 1 – Who passing this unassuming bungalow would guess at the event it had witnessed?
Images 2 & 3 – A crowd gathers outside for the ceremony, and then reforms in the garden.
Image 4 – Pat’s body fell somwhere towards the bottom of the garden.
Image 5 – Behind Gerry Burke is the plaque, covered by an Australian flag.
Image 6 – The Reverend Attwood gives the reading.
Image 7 – ‘The last Post’ is sounded.
Image 8 – The plaque.
Image 9 – The wreath.
Image 10 – The Hall brothers.
By: JDK - 29th September 2005 at 10:00
Just back from the RAAF Museum archive, hence the resurrection of this thread. I’ve asked for proper scans of the photos from Pat Hughes’ album, but here are a couple of quick shots from my digibox of Pat. The first is his RAAF Graduation photo, proudly wearing his brand new RAAF wings.
As he entered the RAF on a Short Service Commission, I wonder if he retained his RAAF Wings on his RAF Uniform? These wings were the ones he was entitled to, rather than transferring to RAF ones. Anyone know?
The second photo is of Pat with two other trainees on his Point Cook course.
By: Geoff K - 11th September 2005 at 09:25
I thought that you might be intersted in these two replies to a thread I started on the BoBHS board regarding the existence of this thread.
Stephanie Bladen
Thank you very much for the very moving article on the unveiling of the plaque memorial dedicated to my uncle (my father’s brother) Flt Lt Pat Hughes. He was the first pre-war graduate of Point Cook RAAF College, Victoria to be awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. We, his family, are very proud of his distinguished war record and the part he played in the defence of Britain during World War 11. On behalf of Pat’s family (he has one surviving sister, Mrs C Torbett of Sydney, out of 11 siblings, as well as many nieces and nephews) many thanks to the Hall brothers and The Battle of Britain Historical Society for this commemoration service. Lest We Forget.
and
It is fantastic to see the plaque erected for my Uncle Pat Hughes.It has been a long time coming. I have been talking to Tony Hall now for the best part of five year’s about this. The family here in Australia would like to thank everyone in England for what they have done to remember my Uncle.
Well Done and best wishes to you all
Malcolm Booth
Geoff
By: Peter - 9th September 2005 at 14:17
A terrific tribute to Pat Hughes. Well done!
By: Geoff K - 9th September 2005 at 10:42
If anyone else would like to do something like this for any other of ‘The Few’, even if they died after the battle was over, then I’m sure the BoBHS would lend its support.
Geoff.
By: JDK - 8th September 2005 at 09:34
Thanks for that work Don, I’ll be talking with Monica next week, and hope to get some of the pictures ready as a result of that. I can’t recall if Pat’s own album contains a copy of his course photo, but it certainly names other members on his course with him. I’m sure some parts of the course are dated, and there are events (a Seagull V crash, for instance) which will be specifically datable.
By: JDK - 8th September 2005 at 07:01
A bit more about Hughes.
He was, according to Dennis Newton’s ‘Australian Air Aces’ book, third highest scoring Australian in W.W.II, with 17 kills, (14, = 3 shared) behind Clive ‘Killer’ Caldwell with 30, and Adrian ‘Tim’ Goldsmith with 17.
He joined the RAF in 1937, specifically 64 (F) Squadron, having trained with the RAAF and learned to fly with them at Point Cook in 1936. (He took a huge number of photos in a short period of time!)
He was credited with 234’s first credited kill in July 1940.
He assisted in setting up 247 Squadron at Roborough, before rejoining 234 Sqn. (I wonder if he flew a Gladiator with them? Incidentally, the Shuttleworth Glad was painted in 247 Sqn colours for a few years.)
Between his first kill on July 8th and his death on September 7th, he was credited with six German aircraft in three days, beguining on September 4th.
He developed for himself a tactic used by other great aces of getting in close to achieve a kill. That may have been what caused his downfall on 7th September.
He was pothumously awarded the DFC, Gazetted on 22nd October 1940.
This website here gives a good bit more about him, as well as some photos of his grave in a typical English country churchyard. A corner of which is forever Australia.
There is also a memorial tablet at Christ’s Church, Kiama, NSW, placed there by Pat’s sister.
The Battle of Britain Historical Society have an excellent page here, unfortunately marred by a photo of someone else. This is from the Australian War Memorial collection, and is listed on their website (as P01397.001 ) but features a man in RAF / RAAF tropical jacket, with an American goggles set (and light coloured helmet) in what is clearly a P-40 (the AWM have misidentified it as a Hurricane) in a non-European setting. Hughes cannot have flown a P-40, ergo, it’s not him. Geoff – I’ll try ad get you a copy of a photo of the right chap!
Under a photo of Hughes’ medal set (all four medals featured he did not live to recieve – or even see) on the AWM website, they add:
Flight Lieutenant Paterson Clarence (Pat) Hughes was born on 19 September 1917 at Cooma, NSW. Having served his cadetship with the RAAF at Point Cook, Hughes applied for and received a short service commission with the Royal Air Force in early 1937 as a pilot officer. When the Second World War broke out, Hughes had already served with 64 Fighter Squadron, and had transferred to 234 Squadron as a flight commander, flying Spitfires. Hughes married in England on 7 August 1940. Between 8 July and 7 September 1940, at the height of the Battle of Britain, Hughes was responsible for shooting down 15 German aircraft and shared the destruction of three others. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for his first seven ‘kills’. Hughes died when shooting down his fifteenth victim, a Dornier Do 17. Whether the exploding Dornier fatally damaged his Spitfire, or he flew into the firing line of a fellow pilot is unclear. Hughes was 22. The top-scoring Australian ace of the Battle of Britain, Hughes has been described as the ‘real driving force behind 234 Squadron’.
I’d be interested in any other info, photos or feedback on his career and documentation.
Best
By: JDK - 8th September 2005 at 02:50
Hi Bluenoser,
Given the last test of the Ashes starts tonight, it’s a particularly appropriate time to remember that this Australian laid his life down for another country – not his own.
The ties between Britain and Australia have varied over the last century, but Australians have always been found when Britain went (and indeed today – goes) to war.
A wonderful commemoration for a man a long way from his homeland. Thanks from Australia.
By: BlueNoser352 - 8th September 2005 at 01:16
Geoff:
Thanks for posting this wonderful tribute to this fine pilot, a great report and its a fine tribute to this man and his service to his country. Wonderful photo’s and glad to see this tribute in his memory!
A Salute from:
BlueNoser352
By: JDK - 7th September 2005 at 23:57
Teriffic stuff as ever Geoff.
Sad to think I posted a bit of different info about Hughes a week or two back here which didn’t get a single reply. 🙁 Ah well.
Hughes was a very keen amateur photographer and joined the RAAF in the 1930s, training at Point Cook, before taking a short service commission in the RAF. At Point Cook he took photos of all sorts of activity, learing to fly in DH60s, Avro Cadets, and then onto Wapitis, Demons and a go with Seagull Vs and a few other scattered photos of rugby and hockey games against the Navy, larking about in pistol training, his fellow recruits having a ‘Smoko’ on the barracks’ steps (not far form where the album is now).
I’m in the process of selecting some of the pictures (spoilt for choice really) for a short article for the RAAF Museum, and possibly to go on the website. It will be good if we can bring a lottle of the other end, his short time in Britain into the story too.
Best,
By: archieraf - 7th September 2005 at 23:38
Remembered, and quite rightly so. All those who were lost should be remembered, congratulations to all those involved in ensuring that Flt/Lt Pat Hughes will not be forgotten.
By: pimpernel - 7th September 2005 at 22:53
Geoff, thanks for sharing.
Flt/Lt Pat Hughes remembered, and quite righly so.
A pat on the back to all involved.
Lest we forget.
BP.
By: DazDaMan - 7th September 2005 at 21:29
Such a small, yet very touching, show of remembrance.
We shall remember them…
By: SHORTSBRO - 7th September 2005 at 21:24
Remember the Few
Hi Geoff
Thanks for bringing this to our attention.
These often forgotten but tragic incidents bring home the true sacrifices of those brave few.
Smudger
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September 7, 2005 at 8:52 pm