The Airmen's Stories - Sgt. J A Hughes-Rees

John Anthony Hughes-Rees, of Newport, Monmouthshire, joined the RAFVR about April 1939 as an Airman u/t Pilot (745790). Called up on September 1st he was posted to 22 EFTS at Cambridge in December. He completed his training at 5 FTS and after converting to Spitfires, he joined 609 Squadron at Middle Wallop on September 22nd 1940. He claimed a Me110 destroyed on the 25th and then crash-landed at Glastonbury with engine trouble in Spitfire L1008. On October 7th he destroyed a Me109. Still with 609 in May 1941, he shared in the destruction of a Me109 on the 8th, damaged another on the 21st, destroyed one on June 30th and destroyed one and probably another on July 8th. He was awarded the DFM (gazetted 8th August 1941) and commissioned in December. Hughes-Rees died of poliomyelitis on April 30th 1943 as a Flying Officer at 73 OTU, Abu Sueir. He was 22 and is buried in Moascar War Cemetery, Egypt.

Photographs courtesy of Colonel C R Romberg RA, British Embassy Cairo