The Airmen's Stories - P/O D L Hughes

Dennis Lawrence Hughes, of Barnet, London was born on 12th November 1919 and joined the RAFVR about March 1939 as an Airman u/t Pilot.

Called up on 1st September 1939, he completed his training at 6 FTS Little Rissington on 2nd August 1940, was commissioned and then went to 6 OTU Sutton Bridge where he converted to Defiants.

He joined 141 Squadron at West Malling on 19th August. He was serving with it until 16th December 1940 when he was posted to 256 Squadron, then being formed at Catterick with Defiants.

In early 1944 Hughes joined 239 Squadron at West Raynham, operating Mosquitos on bomber-support. During the night of 22nd May 1944 he shot down a Me110, on 24th May another Me110 and on 29th August he destroyed a Ju88.

He was awarded the DFC (gazetted 8th December 1944) as an Acting Squadron Leader.

He destroyed a Ju188 during the night of 16th March 1945 and another on 3rd April.

Hughes was released from the RAF in 1946 as a Squadron Leader.

He died in July 1996 in Hendon.