5 September 1940. Pat Hughes

234 Squadron were busy again, too. At about 2.45 p.m., they were ordered to patrol Kenley and, when they saw anti aircraft fire near Gravesend they went to investigate. They realised that the enemy raid had finished and was on its way back to France. As they approached Gravesend, Blue Section, led by Pat Hughes in Spitfire X4009, were attacked out of the sun by three Me 109s. Probably without even time to remember that both his Great War heroes Boelcke and Mick Mannock had favoured positions with the sun behind to take advantage of the element of surprise, Pat turned to attack. But instead of the three, he saw twelve Me 109s in vics of five and seven coming up the Thames Estuary. He turned and dived and was joined by two Hurricanes. A roiling dogfight ensued. Pat fired a full deflection shot at one of the Me 109s and hit its ammunition tanks. The enemy aircraft blew up and spun down. Pat then turned towards a vic of three Me 109s. He selected one, chased it and then attacked from dead astern. He was so close that when he hit the Me’s oil tank his Spitfire’s wings were covering with oil up to the tops.

Pat’s personal tally was now two third shares, one third share unconfirmed, one 1/2 share, and 12 destroyed. He was more than a double ace. He had no idea of course but as he climbed out of his Spitfire to head off for a well earned jar, his DFC recommendation was winging its way up the chain of command; had been ever since 29 August. As well as his battle prowess and courage his leadership in particular was commended: ‘His example, leadership and control has in all respects been exemplary and all the more valuable and important in its influence upon the squadron as the other two senior officers viz the Squadron Leader and A Flight Commander became non-operational flying officers and left the squadron.’

Four years of growing up and perhaps even marriage had made a lot of difference to Pat. When he graduated 28th in his RAAF cadet class at the end of 1936, he was assessed as ‘energetic and keen’ but ‘has no outstanding qualities’.  

Photo of Pat Hughes, Point Cook cadet, 1936.