Hughes, Patrick Anthony
Personal Information
Rank | F/O |
Forename(s) | Patrick Anthony |
Surname | Hughes |
Gender | M |
Age | 28 |
Decorations | DFM |
Date of Death | 12-12-1944 |
Next of Kin | Son of James and Florence Hughes, of Seven Kings, Ilford, Essex. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Avro Lancaster III |
Serial Number | PB554 |
Markings | 6O-M |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | Germany |
Burial/Memorial Place | Reichswald Forest War Cemetery |
Grave Reference | 13. G. 7. |
Epitaph | FOR HOW CAN MAN DIE BETTER THAN FACING FEARFUL ODDS. R.I.P. |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 186 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | 175594 |
Service | Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve |
Group | 8 |
Squadron | 582 |
Trade | Air Bomber |
Country of Origin | United Kingdom |
Other Memorials
Location | Adjacent to former Airfield Site, Little Staughton, Bedfordshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Stone Memorial |
Memorial Text | A memorial to RAF Little Staughton, including 109 Sqn |
Location | All Saints Church, Little Staughton, Bedfordshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Stone Tablet & Sqn Badge |
Memorial Text | In memory of 109 and 582 Sqns. At R.A.F. Little Staughton |
Miscellaneous Information
Had already completed one tour of ops with 51 Sqn |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/2101/33 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/2052/17 |
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 12-12-1944 |
End Date | 13-12-1944 |
Takeoff Station | Little Staughton |
Day/Night Raid | Night (7% moon) |
Operation | Essen. 540 aircraft, 6 lost (1.1%). The last sizeable night raid on Essen. A very accurate attack on the Krupps works, it being singled out for discussion by Albert Speer during his post-war interrogations. 463 people were killed and 696 houses destroyed. The high death toll was due, in part, to the prison being hit with the loss of 201 prisoners. |
Reason for Loss | Hit by flak during the bombing run and exploded, debris being scattered over Mülheim |