Captain David James Hughes (born 16 April 1899, date of death unknown) was a British

First World War World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

flying ace A flying ace, fighter ace or air ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down five or more enemy aircraft during aerial combat. The exact number of aerial victories required to officially qualify as an ace is varied, but is usually co ...

credited with five aerial victories.

Military service

Hughes was commissioned into the

Royal Flying Corps "Through Adversity to the Stars" , colors = , colours_label = , march = , mascot = , anniversaries = , decorations ...

as a temporary

second lieutenant Second lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces, comparable to NATO OF-1 rank. Australia The rank of second lieutenant existed in the military forces of the Australian colonies and Australian Army until ...

(on probation) on the General List on 12 August 1917, and was confirmed in his rank on 30 October. After completing his pilot's training, Hughes became an instructor for a while. He was then assigned to No. 3 Squadron to fly a

Sopwith Camel The Sopwith Camel is a British First World War single-seat biplane fighter aircraft that was introduced on the Western Front in 1917. It was developed by the Sopwith Aviation Company as a successor to the Sopwith Pup and became one of the b ...

. He ran up a total of two enemy aircraft destroyed, two driven down out of control, and one captured, between 8 August and 23 October 1918.Shores ''et.al.'' (1990), p. 203. His award of the Distinguished Flying Cross was

gazetted A gazette is an official journal, a newspaper of record, or simply a newspaper. In English and French speaking countries, newspaper publishers have applied the name ''Gazette'' since the 17th century; today, numerous weekly and daily newspapers ...

in November 1918, his citation reading: :Lieutenant David James Hughes. ::"A gallant and skilful officer. On 4th September his patrol was attacked by eight Fokker biplanes. Proceeding to the assistance of one of our machines that was in difficulties, Lieut. Hughes was himself attacked by two enemy aeroplanes and driven down, to 4,000 feet, his petrol and oil tanks being shot through. By skilful manoeuvring he regained our lines, pursued by one of the enemy, which, at 2,000 feet, he engaged, bringing it down in our lines." Hughes left the RAF, being transferred to the unemployed list, on 28 January 1919.

References

;Citations ;Bibliography * {{DEFAULTSORT:Hughes, David 1899 births Year of death missing Royal Flying Corps officers British World War I flying aces Recipients of the Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom) People from Chester Military personnel from Chester