Born 9 December, 1918 at Kent Bridge, Kent  County, ON. The son of Thomas James Hughes and Eve Lydia (Green). Raymond was one of eight children; three boys Raymond, Flt. Lt. James Roland (DFC) and LAC J. T. R168423 in the RCAF and Daughters, Barbara WREN #W1265 and Maxine CAWC # W1890. Raymond attended S. S. No. 8 (Chatham and Camden Twsp.) and Knox Presbyterian Church in Kent Bridge. After the necessary chores Raymond found time for some baseball and hockey in the winter on the nearby Thames River.

He attended Chatham Collegiate Institute (1931 – 32) and Chatham Vovational School in Chatham (1936 -37) studying electricity and mathematics. After graduating from CVS he was employed at the Abitibi Power & Paper Co. in Sault St. Marie (1937 – 38)

His first military training was with the Kent Regt. in Chatham during 1940, but on 25 June, 1941 he reported to the RCAF recruiting depot in London, ON. He attended the basic gunner school at Fingal, ON. where he attained a score of 82% graduating as a air gunner 16/02/42. Flt. Sgt. Hughes would go overseas 23/03/1942. The CDN 10/04/1942 reported that Raymond had safely arrived overseas to England.  Flt. Sgt. Hughes would go overseas 23/03/1942.  He was stationed at No. 22 Operational Training Unit.

He could have hardly found a more dangerous position of rear gunner. It was while flying in a Wellington bomber his plane was hit by German flak and exploded. 

Date of Death: 10/09/1942, in Wellington bomber on Air Ops. over Holland. All of the crew perished.

On 20 September 1942 the following Canadian National Telegram was delivered to Thomas James Hughes, Kent Bridge, ONT.

M9047 REGRET TO INFORM YOU ADVICE RECEIVED FROM INTERNATIONAL RED CROSS SOCIETY QUOTING GERMAN INFORMATION STATES THAT YOUR SON SERGEANT RAYMOND WOODS HUGHES LOST HIS LIFE ON SEPTEMBER TENTH NINETEEN FORTY TWO BUT DOES NOT GIVE ANY ADDITIONAL PARTICULARS STOP PENDING FURTHER CONFIRMATION YOUR SON IS TO BE CONSIDERED MISSING BELIEVED KILLED STOP PLEASE ACCEPT MY SINCERE SYMPATHY IN YOUR GREAT ANXIETY STOP LETTER FOLLOWS

RCAF CASUALTIES OFFICER.

“GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN BY FATHER, MOTHER, BROTHERS AND SISTERS”

 

       The above transcribed from a copy of the original telegram. JRH 14/03/2012.

The RCAF reported Raymond missing “and for official purposes presumed to have died on 10 September, 1942 while serving No.22 Operational Training Unit.’

Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead, Grave/Memorial Reference: Row C. Grave 26.

Cemetery: FLUSHING (VLISSINGEN) NORTHERN CEMETERY.

“GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN BY FATHER, MOTHER, BROTHERS AND SISTERS”. 

Raymond is in the story of the Chatham Vocational School who died in WWII – Peter N. Stanojevic (author)

 

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Sources	Index of Overseas Deaths - Ontario, They Shall Not Grow Old - Vocational Review, CCI-RH, CWGC, ATNCB, CVWM, (P WGP)
Supplemental Information	Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead, Grave/Memorial Reference: Row C. Grave 26. Cemetery: FLUSHING (VLISSINGEN) NORTHERN CEMETERY.

Age

23

---

Notice something wrong with this record? Or, do you have something to add? Report it using our online form.