Battle of Britain London Monument – Sgt. J A HUGHES-REES 
THE BATTLE OF BRITAIN LONDON MONUMENT 
"Never in the field of human
conflict was so much owed
by so many to so few." 
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Privacy Statement The Airmen’s Stories – Sgt. J A Hughes-Rees
John Anthony Hughes-Rees, of Newport, Pembrokeshire, joined the RAFVR about April 1939 as an Airman u/t Pilot (745790).
Called up on September 1st he was posted to 22 EFTS at Cambridge in December. He completed his training at 5 FTS and after converting to Spitfires, he joined 609 Squadron at Middle Wallop on September 22nd 1940.
He claimed a Me110 destroyed on the 25th and then crash-landed at Glastonbury with engine trouble in Spitfire L1008. On October 7th he destroyed a Me109.
Above: L to R: Sgt T Rigler, Sgt R Mercer, Hughes-Rees, Sgt R Boyd, S/Ldr ML Robinson
Still with 609 in May 1941, he shared in the destruction of a Me109 on the 8th, damaged another on the 21st, destroyed one on 30th June and destroyed one and probably another on 8th July.
Above: Hughes-Rees in the background as Churchill visits 609 Squadron.
He was awarded the DFM (gazetted 8th August 1941) and commissioned in December. Hughes-Rees died of poliomyelitis on 30th April 1943 as a Flying Officer at 73 OTU, Abu Sueir.H
He was 22 and is buried in Moascar War Cemetery, Egypt.
Photographs courtesy of Colonel C R Romberg RA, British Embassy Cairo
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