LEST WE FORGET
Sergeant Reginald John HUGHES
Service No: 422565
Born: Forbes NSW, 7 September 1918
Enlisted in the RAAF: 22 May 1942
Unit: No. 32 Operational Training Unit (RAF)
Died: Aircraft Accident (No. 32 Operational Training Unit Hampden aircraft AN142), Patricia Bay, 23 May 1943, Aged 24 Years
Buried: Victoria (Royal Oak) Burial Park, British Columbia
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Arthur Edward and Hilda May Hughes, of Forbes, New South Wales, Australia; husband of Nerida Constance Marie Hughes, of Young, New South Wales
Roll of Honour: Forbes NSW
Remembered: Panel 133, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
On 23 May 1943, Hampden AN142 took off from Patricia Bay on a navigational exercise over the sea. After sending distress signals, the aircraft returned to base at 1712 hours. It flew across the aerodrome flying on the port engine only at about 400 feet height. It yawed to starboard, stalled and crashed into the ground, catching fire. Three of the crew were killed and Sergeant Bishop died of his injuries on 27May 1943.
The crew members of AN142 were:
Sergeant Colin Lisle Bishop (418499) (Wireless Air Gunner)
Pilot Officer Charles John Davis (429864) (Pilot)
Sergeant Reginald John Hughes (422565) (Wireless Air Gunner)
Sergeant Alan Robert Marlow (1577871) (RAFVR) (Navigator)
References:
Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour On-Line Records (RAAF Casualty Information compiled by Alan Storr (409804))
Commonwealth War Graves Commission On-Line Records
Department of Veterans’ Affairs On-Line WWII Nominal Roll
National Archives of Australia On-Line Record A705, 166/18/101