The Australian War Memorial Collection. Test site
1939-45 Star with 'Battle of Britain' clasp. Unnamed as issued.
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'.
Newspaper clippings, copies of letters, cables and extracts from books relating to Hughes' WWII service with the RAF. Also: copies of letters and cables relating to his marriage in England.
Probably Sydney, NSW. c.1936-12. Studio portrait of 39461 Flight Lieutenant Patterson Clarence Hughes DFC who died 1940-09-07 aged 22, during the Battle of Britain, serving with No. 234 Squadron RAF.
ENGLAND, 1940. PORTRAIT OF 39461 FLIGHT LIEUTENANT PATERSON (?PATTERSON) CLARENCE HUGHES DFC (DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS) WHO DIED 1940-09-07 AGED 22, DURING THE BATTLE OF BRITAIN, WHEN SERVING WITH N
ENGLAND, 1940. INFORMAL OUTDOORS PORTRAIT OF 39461 FLIGHT LIEUTENANT PATERSON (?PATTERSON) CLARENCE HUGHES DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS (DFC) WHO DIED 1940-09-07 AGED 22, DURING THE BATTLE OF BRITAIN, W
MEMBERS OF RAF 234 SQUADRON, B FLIGHT, ON STANDBY, RELAXING AT READINESS, WITH THEIR SPITFIRE AIRCRAFT PARKED BEHIND THEM ON THE AIRFIELD. (DONOR W.M. HUGHES)
Air Crew Europe Star. Unnamed as issued. 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
British War Medal 1939-45. Unnamed as issued. Flight Lieutenant Paterso nClarence (Pat) Hughes was born on 19 September 1917 at Cooma, NSW. Having served his cadetship with the RAAF at Point Cook, H
Distinguished Flying Cross (Geo VI). Engraved reverse lower arm with year of award. Posthumously awarded to Flight Lieutenant Paterson (Pat) Clarence Hughes. The citation for the award reads 'This o
Informal portrait of 39461 Flight Lieutenant (Flt Lt) Paterson Clarence Hughes DFC, pilot of No. 234 Squadron RAF. Flt Lt Hughes was killed in action over London on 7 September 1940.
1939-45 Star with clasp 'BATTLE OF BRITAIN'. Medal unnamed as issued to British personnel. Awarded to Air Marshal Sir Ronald Lees, RAF. Ronald Beresford Lees was born at Broken Hill, NSW on 27 April
Probably Sydney, NSW. c.1936-12. Studio portrait of 39461 Flight Lieutenant Patterson Clarence Hughes DFC who died 1940-09-07 aged 22, during the Battle of Britain, serving with No. 234 Squadron RAF.