Photos from the the scrapbook of Paterson Clarence Hughes and his service at RAAF Point Cook, Victoria have been shared. Hunter Fighter Collection visited David Hughes, Pat’s nephew, at Parkes NSW recently and David generously shared a number of photos and family memorabilia about Pat and his service in Australia and the RAF UK. Followers of Flight Lieutenant Paterson Clarence Hughes DFC, the fighter pilot of Spitfire X4009 would know that Pat was an Air Cadet in the RAAF Flying Training School at Point Cook, Victoria in 1936. These photographs show him flying in formation.
A caption on a photo taken from his aircraft reads” Coming in to Point Cook with the flight leading in formation. The Station can be just seen beyond the salt pan from which is like a big white blob in front”.
David and his wife were only too happy to hear about about the work being done on the restoration of the Pats Spitfire, Mk Ia X4009 by Hunter Fighter Collection at Scone NSW. We’re grateful to David and his wife for allowing us access to Pats memorabilia and for their hospitality when we visited them at Parkes. Many members of the family of Pat Hughes have contacted us and lent their support to our project to get the Pat Hughes Spitfire flying again and are keen to learn of its progress.
Thank you to all those who have generously donated to the Pat Hughes Spitfire project.
Avro Cadet at Point Cook circa 1937 taken by Pat Hughes Spitfire X4009 pilot
Pat Hughes takes photos of Avro Cadets A6-2 and A6-6 at Point Cook Vic
