Career
Educated at Waitaki Boys" High School, Hughes joined the Royal Air Force in 1938. He served in World World War II mainly in the Middle East and North Africa: after being shot down, he was taken prisoner in 1941 by a group of Italian soldiers near Benghazi - although he later turned the tables and took 130 Italians prisoner himself. He became Officer Commanding Number.
511 Squadron in September 1945.
After the War he served as Officer Commanding the Royal Aircraft Establishment at Farnborough before becoming Station Commander at Royal Air Force Jever in 1955. He went on to be Air Officer Commanding Number.
19 (Reconnaissance) Group in 1962 and Deputy Controller of Aircraft (Royal Air Force) at the Ministry of Aviation in 1964 before becoming Air Officer Commanding Far East Air Force in 1966 and retiring in 1969.