Flight Sergeant John William Hughes (41436) served with the Royal New Zealand Air Force during the Second World War. He was the son of John Bernard Hughes and Beatrice Maud Hughes of Palmerston North, Wellington, New Zealand.
Flight Sergeant Hughes died on 13th July 1943 aged 27 years old. At the time, he flew in Northern Ireland with RAF No. 7 (Coastal) Operational Training Unit.
Imperial War Museum Photo: HU 99420 (Part of the Royal Air Force Official Collection). Aerial photograph of RAF Limavady, locally known as Aghanloo Airfield next to the River Roe in Co. Londonderry.
On 13th July 1943, he was a Wireless Operator / Air Gunner in Vickers Wellington HF838 that took off from RAF Limavady, Aghanloo Airfield, Co. Londonderry. Hughes and the remaining four crew members died when the plane came down near the Curley Burn river at Dickey’s Glen, Bolea.
John William Hughes’ grave is in Grave 3, St. Mary’s Cemetery, Limavady, Co. Londonderry. Fellow New Zealander John Gouinlock Anderson and Canadian Frederick Dick Butland died in the same incident. They are buried next to each other in Christ Church Churchyard, Drumachose, Co. Londonderry.