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Flight Lieutenant Harry Hughes DFC DFM AE*
After joining the RAF in March 1941, Harry Hughes trained as a Navigator. On completion of training he was posted to join 102 (Ceylon) Squadron at RAF Pocklington flying Halifaxes. Instead of flying on a mining operation, the traditional first operation for a new crew, Hughes and his colleagues joined 442 other bombers to attack the Krupp factory at Essen.
Over the next seven months, Hughes and his colleagues took their Halifax bomber to 25 other heavily defended targets. In addition to attacks against targets in the Ruhr, Hughes visited Nuremberg, Munich and the Skoda armaments factory in Pilsen, a sortie of 10 hours. On a raid to Mülheim, Hughes’s Halifax returned on two engines. Over Stettin on April 20, his Halifax was hit by anti-aircraft fire and the controls were damaged, but the aircraft was recovered safely to Pocklington. Harry completed his first tour with 102 Sqn. For his second tour Harry was posted to join 692 Squadron at Graveley, as Navigator (B). Equipped with Mosquito light bombers, 692 Squadron was part of the Light Night Striking Force of N0.8 (PFF) Group, Bomber Command; famous for its fast striking raids on Berlin using 4000lb cookie bombs. On July 24th the next operation was on Hamburg . Using “window” for the first time (metal foil strips to confuse the enemy radar system), the raid caused extensive damage. Over the next 10 days, Hughes flew on two more attacks on Hamburg. On What became known as the Battle of Berlin opened on August 23. This was to be the first of many sorties Hughes would make to the Big City. After successfully bombing the target, one of the four engines of the Halifax failed and the long flight to base was made on three engines. On September 22, Hughes bombed Hanover, the final operation of his tour. Shortly afterwards, it was announced that he had been awarded the DFM, and he was commissioned. After a short spell at navigation squadron training he volunteered in July 1944 to join the Bomber Command’s Pathfinder Force and he began converting to the twin-engine Mosquito bomber. In August he joined 692 Squadron, which was part of the Pathfinder Forces Light Night Striking Force (LNSF). The main task of the Mosquitos was to accompany the main bomber force and drop window before the attack to confuse the enemy air defence radars. They then headed for a different target on a siren tour, when they ranged far and wide over the Reich to drop a 500lb bomb on each of three or four targets. Among other tasks were spoof raids: when the main force was attacking a major target, the fast high-flying Mosquitos would head for other major cities to draw away the enemy night-fighter force. On New Years Day 1945, Hughes flew on a tunnel-busting operation against vital German lines of supply to the Ardennes offensive. During his tour of operations, Hughes attacked Berlin no fewer than 10 times, the last occasion on February 5. On the 14th, he flew a siren tour raid to Frankfurt, his 50th operation with the LNSF. He was awarded the DFC, the recommendation stating: Since the award of the Distinguished Flying Medal this officer has completed many further operational sorties against strongly defended enemy targets. At all times he has shown himself to be a skilful and accurate navigator. His courage, determination and devotion to duty have always been noteworthy. After the war, Hughes flew Mosquitos to Burma, where he later joined 52 Squadron at Calcutta flying Dakotas on re-supply routes in support of the campaign in Burma. Among the passengers he carried were the Supreme Commander, Admiral Lord Louis Mountbatten, and the future Indian prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru. Harry Hughes DFC DFM AE Died on July 25th of 2023 at the age of 100.
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| Distinguished Flying Cross | Distinguished Flying Medal |
| Flight Lieutenant Harry Hughes DFC DFM AE* - Signed Aviation Art |
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Clipped Signature - Harry Hughes. After joining the RAF in March 1941, Harry Hughes trained as a Navigator. On completion of training he was posted to join 102 (Ceylon) Squadron at RAF Pocklington flying Halifaxes. Instead of flying on a mining operation, the traditional first operation for a new crew, Hughes and his colleagues joined 442 other bombers to attack the Krupp factory at Essen. Over the next seven months, Hughes and his colleagues took their Halifax bomber to 25 other heavily defended targets. In addition to attacks against targets in the Ruhr, Hughes visited Nuremberg, Munich and the Skoda armaments factory in Pilsen, a sortie of 10 hours. On a raid to Mülheim, Hughes’s Halifax returned on two engines. Over Stettin on April 20, his Halifax was hit by anti-aircraft fire and the controls were damaged, but the aircraft was recovered safely to Pocklington. Harry completed his first tour with 102 Sqn. For his second tour Harry was posted to join 692 Squadron at Graveley, as Navigator (B). Equipped with Mosquito light bombers, 692 Squadron was part of the Light Night Striking Force of N0.8 (PFF) Group, Bomber Command; famous for its fast striking raids on Berlin using 4000lb cookie bombs. On July 24th the next operation was on Hamburg . Using “window†for the first time (metal foil strips to confuse the enemy radar system), the raid caused extensive damage. Over the next 10 days, Hughes flew on two more attacks on Hamburg. On What became known as the Battle of Berlin opened on August 23. This was to be the first of many sorties Hughes would make to the Big City. After successfully bombing the target, one of the four engines of the Halifax failed and the long flight to base was made on three engines. On September 22, Hughes bombed Hanover, the final operation of his tour. Shortly afterwards, it was announced that he had been awarded the DFM, and he was commissioned. After a short spell at navigation squadron training he volunteered in July 1944 to join the Bomber Command’s Pathfinder Force and he began converting to the twin-engine Mosquito bomber. In August he joined 692 Squadron, which was part of the Pathfinder Forces Light Night Striking Force (LNSF). The main task of the Mosquitos was to accompany the main bomber force and drop window before the attack to confuse the enemy air defence radars. They then headed for a different target on a siren tour, when they ranged far and wide over the Reich to drop a 500lb bomb on each of three or four targets. Among other tasks were spoof raids: when the main force was attacking a major target, the fast high-flying Mosquitos would head for other major cities to draw away the enemy night-fighter force. On New Years Day 1945, Hughes flew on a tunnel-busting operation against vital German lines of supply to the Ardennes offensive. During his tour of operations, Hughes attacked Berlin no fewer than 10 times, the last occasion on February 5. On the 14th, he flew a siren tour raid to Frankfurt, his 50th operation with the LNSF. He was awarded the DFC, the recommendation stating: Since the award of the Distinguished Flying Medal this officer has completed many further operational sorties against strongly defended enemy targets. At all times he has shown himself to be a skilful and accurate navigator. His courage, determination and devotion to duty have always been noteworthy. After the war, Hughes flew Mosquitos to Burma, where he later joined 52 Squadron at Calcutta flying Dakotas on re-supply routes in support of the campaign in Burma. Among the passengers he carried were the Supreme Commander, Admiral Lord Louis Mountbatten, and the future Indian prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru. Harry Hughes DFC DFM AE Died on July 25th of 2023 at the age of 100. |
Band of Brothers by Robert Taylor. The mighty Lancaster, the mainstay of RAF Bomber Command, crewed by volunteers from Britain, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Rhodesia, South Africa, and many other nations opposed to Nazi rule, flew day and night sorties whenever there was a chance of reaching the target. Their unflinching courage, and selfless devotion to duty paved the way for the D-Day invasion, and the ultimate liberation of Nazi occupied Europe. Embellished with Goerings infamous quotation No Enemy Plane Will Fly Over The Reich Territory, S for Sugar took her bombs to Berlin, Hamburg, Schweinfurt, Bremen, Hanover, Wurzburg, Munich, Stuttgart, Frankfurt, Dusseldorf, and other prime targets, flying the second greatest number of operational sorties of any bomber in the Command. Time and again Sugar brought her crew home, often limping back riddled with flak and bullet holes, occasionally on three engines, and once all the way back from the German capital with a badly damaged wing following a mid-air collision over the target. Robert Taylors emotive painting shows S for Sugar on the morning of 27th April, 1944 after her 95th sortie - a raid on the ball-bearing factory at Schweinfurt. As the battle-scarred bomber taxies in at RAF Waddington, other 467 Squadron Lancasters follow, heading for their dispersal points. Already the weary crews begin their informal debriefing. By the wars end this trusty bomber had completed no fewer than 137 operations over enemy territory, bringing her crew home every time. Now magnificently restored to her former glory, S for Sugar resides in the RAF Museum at Hendon, providing a lasting tribute to the gallant men of RAF Bomber Command. The famous aircraft was typical of, and ultimately came to symbolise, the men and machines of Royal Air Force Bomber Command. Flying initially with 83 Squadron Pathfinder Force, then 467 Squadron RAAF, Avro Lancaster serial number R5868, call sign S for Sugar, took part in almost every major attack on Germany between the summer of 1942 and the end of hostilities. With the life expectancy of a new Lancaster being just a few months, it was a miracle she survived the war. |
| Flight Lieutenant Harry Hughes DFC DFM AE* Aircraft details |
 Halifax Manufacturer : Handley Page Built : 6177 | Halifax Royal Air Force heavy Bomber with a crew of six to eight. Maximum speed of 280mph (with MK.VI top speed of 312mph) service ceiling of 22,800feet maximum range of 3,000 miles. The Halifax carried four .303 browning machine guns in the tail turret, two .303 browning machines in the nose turret in the MK III there were four .303 brownings in the dorsal turret. The Handley Page Halifax, first joined the Royal Air Force in March 1941 with 35 squadron. The Halifax saw service in Europe and the Middle east with a variety of variants for use with Coastal Command, in anti Submarine warfare, special duties, glider-tugs, and troop transportation roles. A total of 6177 Halifax's were built and stayed in service with the Royal Air Force until 1952 |
 Mosquito Manufacturer : De Havilland Built : 7781 | Mosquito Used as a night fighter, fighter bomber, bomber and Photo-reconnaissance, with a crew of two, Maximum speed was 425 mph, at 30,300 feet, 380mph at 17,000ft. and a ceiling of 36,000feet, maximum range 3,500 miles. the Mosquito was armed with four 20mm Hospano cannon in belly and four .303 inch browning machine guns in nose. Coastal strike aircraft had eight 3-inch Rockets under the wings, and one 57mm shell gun in belly. The Mossie at it was known made its first flight on 25th November 1940, and the mosquito made its first operational flight for the Royal Air Force as a reconnaissance unit based at Benson. In early 1942, a modified version (mark II) operated as a night fighter with 157 and 23 squadron's. In April 1943 the first De Haviland Mosquito saw service in the Far east and in 1944 The Mosquito was used at Coastal Command in its strike wings. Bomber Commands offensive against Germany saw many Mosquitos, used as photo Reconnaissance aircraft, Fighter Escorts, and Path Finders. The Mosquito stayed in service with the Royal Air Force until 1955. and a total of 7781 mosquito's were built. |
| Flight Lieutenant Harry Hughes DFC DFM AE* Squadron details |
No.102 Sqn RAF Country : UK Disbanded 27th April 1963 Known Codes : , DY, EF, TQ, | No.102 Sqn RAF Ceylon Tentate et perficite - Attempt and achieve |
No.692 Sqn RAF Country : UK Disbanded 20th September 1945 Known Codes : , P3, | No.692 Sqn RAF Fellowship of the Bellows Polus dum sidera pascet - So long as the sky shall feed the stars |
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