The Airmen's Stories - Sgt. D E Hughes

David Ernest Hughes was born in Dunedin, New Zealand on 20th October 1912, the son of David Alfred Hughes and Jimima Hughes (nee Watson).

After attending Opunake District High School he worked on his father's farm.

Hughes volunteered to serve as aircrew in the RNZAF on the outbreak of war but he was not called to the Ground Training School at Weraroa until 9th April 1940. In early May Hughes went on a gunnery course at the Air Observers' School at Ohakea.

He sailed for the UK in June in the RMS Rangitata.

Arriving on the 21st July he was processed at RAF Uxbridge and on the 30th Hughes was posted to No. 1 (Coastal) OTU at Silloth. After just four days he was sent to 5 OTU Aston Down where he converted to Blenheims. He joined 600 Squadron at Redhill on 21st September.

He was a member of the crew of Blenheim L4905 which crashed in heavy rain at Forest Row, Sussex in the early hours of 3rd October 1940 after an engagement with enemy aircraft.

Hughes, P/O CA Hobson, pilot, and AC2 CF Cooper, radar operator, were all killed.

Hughes is buried in St Luke's churchyard, Whyteleafe, Surrey.