Paterson Clarence Hughes Junior, known as Pat was born on 19 September
1917 at, or near, Numeralla, near Cooma, NSW. He was brought up in the Monaro but
the family moved to Sydney in 1930–31. Pat attended Petersham Public High
School from 1931 and attained good results in the Intermediate Certificate. His
conduct and attendance while at Petersham were respectable and he was made
school prefect in 1932 and vice captain in 1933. Pat loved sport and during his
school years he devoted much of his leisure time to field, court and pool. After
Petersham, Pat attended Fort Street Boys’ High School for eight months, where
he obtained satisfactory passes in all subjects before leaving to take up
employment as a junior stock clerk with Saunders’ jewellers.
As a child he was keen on aviation and, in
1935, applied for a cadetship at No 1 Flying Training School, Point Cook. He
was successful and commenced on 20 January 1936. He was in the same class Gordon
Olive and Des Sheen. Pat graduated 28th in his class with 66.3%. He sailed to
England in early 1937 and took up a short service commission in the RAF. After
training he was posted to 64 Squadron and then, in November 1939, was posted to
the newly reforming 234 Squadron. He developed into a steely and determined fighter
pilot. He was respected by his fellow pilots and displayed
fearless courage, remarkable skill, devotion to duty and self-sacrifice
throughout his Battle of Britain career and until his death on 7 September 1940.
Pat Hughes was Australia’s highest scoring Battle of
Britain ace and he was posthumously granted a DFC on 22 October 1940.
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